James S. Patterson

jpatterson@splawfirm.net

Professional Profile

Jim is a partner with Sherman & Patterson, a law firm focusing in the areas of tax, nonqualified deferred compensation and employee benefits. Jim also practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and corporate law.

For the last seven years, his practice has been devoted to serving a wide variety of corporate and individual clients on projects ranging from drafting employee benefit plans for large tax-exempt organizations to preparing wills and trusts for individuals. In this role, Jim has drafted numerous split dollar plans, SERPs and other non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and welfare benefit plans. Jim’s practice also includes drafting employment agreements and severance plans that integrate nonqualified deferred compensation concepts with other issues relating to an individual’s employment.

As a corporate lawyer, Jim has established numerous entities (e.g., corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies) and has guided the organizations through various stages of growth. For individuals looking for estate planning, Jim has developed the art of working with people as they plan for the future using various estate planning techniques. And for those whose loved ones have passed away, Jim can help walk them through the complex probate process.

Client Service Philosophy

Jim enjoys listening to people and counseling them. Jim is sensitive to the stress clients feel when a loved one dies, when businesses are being formed or dissolved, and when clients contemplate their own deaths in the course of doing their personal estate planning. Jim delivers accurate, timely and comprehensive legal services to each of his clients.

Education

  • Juris Doctor, J. Reuben Clark Law School, May, 1995
  • Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Economics and Italian, Brigham Young University, 1992

Bar Admission

  • Minnesota, May 1996

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Treasurer, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Minnesota Chapter

Pro Bono Activities

  • Consulted with individuals who were in debt, and helped them work out payment solutions
  • Set up estate plans for individuals who could not afford to pay for such services
  • Donated estate plans for church and community fundraising events

Personal Information

  • Jim is married to Melissa Patterson and has four children: Stephen, age 12; Jeffrey, age 10-1/2; Julia, age 3 and Susanna, age 1.
  • Jim likes sports. He plays racquetball regularly and ran Grandma’s Marathon in 2002. He has coached his boys’ soccer teams over the years and enjoys spending that time with them each summer.