Direct Dial: 612-344-0306
E-mail: jschwebel@schwebel.com
Years in Practice: 56
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, Medical Malpractice
Paralegal Katie Skarda
Legal Secretary Karen Gentilini
News & Press
In 1974, Jim founded what is now Minnesota’s largest law practice specializing in personal injury litigation. Today, he and his partners lead a team of 19 attorneys and over 45 employees who are committed to achieving fair and swift compensation for their clients.
Jim was named “Minneapolis Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year” for 2014 by Best Lawyers in America, a distinction he also held in 2011. He has been recognized in Minnesota Law and Politics as one of the “Top Three Personal Injury Attorneys” and was also acknowledged by the same publication as one of “The 100 Most Influential Attorneys in Minnesota History.” From 1989 to present, Jim has been selected for inclusion in the The Best Lawyers in America. Minneapolis/St Paul Magazine acknowledged him as one of Minnesota’s “Top 10 Super Lawyers.” The same acknowledgement was received from the The National Law Journal when listing “Minnesota’s Top Ten Litigators.”
After two years of litigation, Jim received multi-million dollar settlements for the victims of the I-35W Bridge Collapse Minneapolis, the MGM Hotel fire in Las Vegas and the Williams Pipeline explosion in Roseville. In addition, he was appointed by the Court as a member of the Plaintiff’s Liability Committee to handle claims for many Minnesotans who lost family members in the Galaxy Airlines crash in Reno, Nevada. In a 2002 jury trial he received the highest award ever handed down for the wrongful death of a young man. Jim also received record post-trial settlements for victims of the Nicollet Mall Hollidazzle Crash.
Jim was one of the first attorneys in Minnesota to be certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He was also chosen for membership on the American Board of Trial Advocates. Jim was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Professional Responsibility and on the Board of Law Examiners.
Minnesota State Bar, 1968
U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota, 1970
U.S. Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1981
U.S. Supreme Court of the United States of America, 1971
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1970
University of Minnesota School of Law, 1968
University of Minnesota, Mpls, MN, BA, Political Science, 1965
Cretin High School, St. Paul, MN, 1960
Schwebel, Goetz, & Sieben, P.A., 1981-present
James R. Schwebel & Associates, 1974-81
Deparcq, Anderson, Perk, Hunegs & Schwebel, 1972-74
Deparcq, Anderson, Perl, Hunegs, 1968-72
International Society of Barristers, Fellow 2006
Minnesota Association for Justice, Secretary 1980-82
Hennepin County Bar Association, Member
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Corporate Advisory Board
American Board of Trial Advocates, Member
Million Dollar Advocate Forum, Member
Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
Supreme Court Advisory Committee, Member
Supreme Court of MN Lawyers, 1982-89
Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners, Member, 1973-1982
Standing Committee for No-Fault, 1975-1980
Underwriting Committee of MN, Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Subscriber Litigation “Committee of Plaintiff’s”
Hennepin County Legal Medical Committee, Secretary: 1972-1975
Central Minnesota Legal Services, Board of Directors
Member Lawyers Credit Union, Board of Directors: 1983
American Bar Association
– Insurance, Negligence & Compensation Law
– Twin Cites Advisory Council: 1987
– National Panel of Arbitrators
Minnesota State Bar Association
– Advisory Council: 1977-80
– MV Committee: 1970-78
St. Paul, Minnesota
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