Category: Our Attorneys
James H. Wills Retires from Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
April 22, 2025 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
After more than 50 years representing trucking companies and businesses, James (Jim) H. Wills has decided to retire from the practice of law. While his expertise and great humor will be missed, we here at BGS are grateful for his many contributions to the industry and this firm, and we wish him all the best as he embarks on this next chapter. Visitors to his northern Minnesota home will remark that he has not slowed down, simply shifted focus! Jim graduated from law school in 1975 and began his legal career as General Counsel for Dart Transit. After six years there, he moved to Anderson Trucking in a similar role, and in 1985 decided to form his own law firm focusing on transportation law. His deep involvement and contributions to the trucking industry continued from there as he combined his expertise in taxation, corporate law, and transportation in guiding his clients at Kalina, Wills, Gisvold and Clark PLLP and from 2016 on here at Barna, Guzy and Steffen Ltd. Jim’s impact on the trucking industry, especially here in Minnesota, cannot be understated. He served on the company board of more than one trucking company, offering his legal advice and common sense for the benefit of all. He played a very active role in…
Read MoreHerman L. Talle Retirement
February 15, 2023 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Attorney Herm Talle is a well-known figure in Anoka County legal fields and has practiced since 1959. Herm joined Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. during a merger in 1991 with the intention of winding down his practice. That practice continued for another thirty-two years. Herm finally decided to retire on January 31st, 2023. During those final 32 years Herm counseled many young attorneys and taught them how to be good lawyers. Full of history, knowledge and a unique insight on legal practice, Herm routinely made everyone’s day brighter at BGS just by showing up and being part of the team. His stories will be missed dearly, and we wish him all the best in retirement at long last. Congratulations Herm! Well done and well-earned retirement.
Read MoreEarly Mediation in Your Civil Litigation Case: A Time and Cost Saver, or a Waste of Time and Money?
August 19, 2022 | Joan M. Quade
The short answer is that it depends. But there are many cases where, with hindsight, we can say that it would have been beneficial to try early mediation. There are some cases where we tried early mediation and they settled before the parties spent a lot of money and time. These are usually the happiest litigants. In my 35 years as a lawyer and advocate for litigants, in many different types of civil litigation cases, and my years as a mediator and an arbitrator, I can tell you that there are many cases that would, and many that did, do well in early mediation. There are also many more cases, especially in the last years, that should have tried early mediation and settled. Litigation should be a last resort for dispute resolution. It costs too much, and it takes too long. Good lawyers, who have a thorough understanding of the law and experience in the litigation process, and who are representing reasonable clients, should be able to negotiate a settlement with the help of a skilled mediator. More and more the parties wish, as they slog through the litigation process, that they would have settled earlier in the process, instead of spending the money and time it takes to litigate. 96% of all…
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