James M. Strommen, Attorney

Jim Strommen is a shareholder and past president of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered. He practices in the areas of Public Utility and Construction Law, Litigation and Local Government Law.

Since 1990, Mr. Strommen has served as general counsel to the Suburban Rate Authority, a joint powers organization of Twin Cities metropolitan area suburbs totaling over 850,000 in population. The SRA intervenes in electric, gas, and telecommunications matters before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and actively reviews developments in right-of-way use, utility franchise, and other utility matters affecting cities and their residents. He has drafted model utility ordinances and franchises used statewide. In his commercial litigation practice, he has successfully recovered judgments as large as $3 million dollars on behalf of public and closely-held corporations, municipalities and for individuals in contract matters and employment matters.

In 1977, Jim earned a B.A. in political science and German from Augsburg College, graduating magna cum laude. After teaching high school for three years he enrolled in the University of Minnesota Law School where he earned a law degree in 1983, graduating cum laude. During his military service, Mr. Strommen studied at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, as a German translator. Upon graduation from law school in 1983, Jim practiced with the law firm of LeFevere, Lefler, Kennedy, O'Brien & Drawz, and joined the predecessor firm to Kennedy & Graven in 1989.

Among the many community service and professional activities in which Mr. Strommen has participated, are the Minneapolis and St. Paul Children's Health Care Hospital's Institutional Review Board, Music Association Board of Minnetonka, and the Mount Olivet Rolling Acres Board. He has run three marathons for charitable causes and also coaches youth basketball and is active in other youth sports programs and church committees.

Jim has this to say about his practice at Kennedy & Graven:

Attorneys at Kennedy & Graven have a significant breadth of knowledge in all legal issues faced by local governments. Their collective knowledge enhances my ability to service clients in utility and construction matters that have become my primary practice areas.