James R. "Jim" Walston is a commercial real estate attorney with 35 years of in-depth professional and industry experience covering a broad range of commercial real estate matters in Minnesota and throughout the United States.
Jim's practice presently includes legal representation of clients in connection with commercial real estate purchases, sales, leases, real estate finance transactions, public transportation projects, zoning and land use matters and real estate loan workouts.
Jim also serves as a reliable and experienced resource for small- to mid-market owner-managed businesses in Minnesota and South Dakota on a variety of real estate-related and general corporate matters.
Experience
Representative Matters
Real Estate Transactions
- Represented purchaser and investor lending group as local counsel in $120 million sale-leaseback transaction of a Minneapolis office tower complex
- Represented national manufacturer in $40 million multi-state sale-leaseback transaction
- Represented a nationwide motor freight carrier company in connection with real estate site acquisition, zoning and land use compliance, construction, leasing and sales matters involving over 150 freight distribution and service centers throughout the United States
- Represented a regional public transportation agency in connection with the planning, construction, and acquisition of real estate interests for a shared commuter light rail corridor project in the Twin Cities metropolitan area
- Represented regional senior housing developers in site acquisition and land use matters for senior housing facilities in Minnesota
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
American Bar Association, Real Property Trust and Estates and Business Law sections
Minnesota State Bar Association, Real Property Law Specialist (certified in 1991)
Hennepin County Bar Association
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Legal 500 US, Real Estate and Construction, 2019; Real Estate - Land Use/Zoning, 2020-2022; Real Estate - Real Estate, 2019, 2023
The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law (Minneapolis), 2019-2025
Chambers USA, Real Estate (Minnesota), 2018-2024
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "Owner-Managed Business/Closely Held Business – Three-Part Webinar Series," Ballard Spahr webinar, May 1, 2020
2017 Advanced Lending Seminar, Complimentary Seminar, May 11, 2017
2016 Advanced Lending Seminar, Complimentary Seminar, April 21, 2016
Board Memberships & Community Service
Pro Bono — Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) Real Estate Clinic
Pro Bono — Northeast Senior Services, Inc. Legal Clinic
Volunteer — Ujamaa Place
Volunteer — Urban Homeworks
Publications
Co-author, "The Interplay Between Tenant Possession and Landlord Control," BOMA Magazine, September/October 2019
Related Insights
Credentials
Education
William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) (J.D. 1985)
University of Nebraska (B.A., Political Science, 1982)
Admissions
Minnesota
South Dakota