Bio

James J. Murray represents private- and public-sector clients in a variety of transactional and litigation areas of practice.

He is a member of the firm's Real Estate/Transaction, Governmental Law and Banking, Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights practice groups. With nearly 40 years of experience, Mr. Murray concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, real estate law, and trust and estate planning.

Mr. Murray is a past member of the Board of Directors for both the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) and for the Michigan Legal Defense Fund. He also has the distinction of serving as Treasurer of the Mackinac Island Community Foundation. 

Representative Client Work

  • Corporate counsel to manufacturing business with over $80 million in sales per year and plants located in Michigan, Tennessee, Indiana and Texas
  • Trial attorney who successfully defended the City of Manistee against environmental liability in the landmark case of Nemeth v Abonmarche Development, Inc., 456 Mich 851; 568 NW2d 89 (1997)
  • Pro bono legal services to many nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Michigan

Municipal Experience

  • Boyne City, Former City Attorney
  • City of Petoskey, Former City Attorney
  • Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (Board of Directors, Former Member, 2008 - 2020)
  • Michigan Municipal League Legal Defense Fund (Board of Directors, Former Member, 2008 - 2020)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Michigan (Grievance Panel)
  • Emmet-Charlevoix County Bar Association (Past President, 1996-1997)

Community Involvement

  • Mackinac Island Community Foundation (Board of Trustees, Chair, 2019 - present; Treasurer, 2016 - 2019)

Credentials

Education

  • Detroit College of Law, Magna Cum Laude, J.D., 1987
    • Detroit College of Law Review, 1985-1986
    • Dewitt C. Holbrook Scholar, 1985-1986
  • Michigan State University, B.A., 1982

Admissions

  • Michigan, 1987

Honors/Awards

Honors & Recognitions

  • "Go To Lawyer for Business Transactions," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2024

Insights

News

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