James concentrates his practice on aggressively litigating complex commercial disputes venued in state and federal courts across the country. Although litigation remains his primary focus, James’ skillset allows him to serve his clients in a broader role: as a trusted advisor on whom they can always rely to offer shrewd advice and pragmatic solutions irrespective of the legal issues they encounter.
Regardless of how or where a dispute arises, James approaches each matter with the same governing philosophy: how does the client define a win, what options are available to achieve that win, and which option maximizes the chance of success in the most efficient way possible?
This type of common-sense lawyering has earned James the trust and respect of his clients and colleagues alike. He has consistently been recognized by Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as one of the most formidable commercial litigators in the country. Additionally, Barton Cerjak S.C. has been repeatedly nominated in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of Best Law Firms in the region for its work in commercial litigation.
Prior Experience
Before founding Barton Cerjak S.C., James was a partner at Hansen Reynolds LLC, a litigation boutique with offices in three states. Prior to his time at Hansen Reynolds, James was an associate in the litigation practice group at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, one of Wisconsin’s oldest and largest law firms.
Outside Interests
When he’s not practicing law, James enjoys watching college football, wrangling his two kids, and enjoying a glass of wine with his wife—simultaneously, in many instances.