James M. Marquardt was born in 1949 in Detroit, Michigan. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1972, and in 1980 received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law, where he served as Business Manager of the DePaul Law Review.

Jim’s expertise is primarily in real estate, including sale and leasing transactions; condominium developments; zoning and land use law; construction contracts and liens; real estate litigation; security interests in real estate; cell tower, wind farm, and solar panel leasing; oil, gas and minerals; and the real property aspects of avigation law.  Jim also has extensive experience with business contracts and nonprofit corporations. He has been peer rated as “AV – Preeminent,” the highest level of Professional Excellence.

Jim also appeared as an expert witness on behalf of JPMorgan Chase in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, in Motors Liquidation Company Avoidance Action Trust v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al., a 10-year legal dispute over the value of collateral pledged as security for a $1.5 billion term loan. Jim was granted expert status by the Court, and he testified as to issues of the recordation of instruments; title searching; title examination; interpretation of ambiguous legal descriptions; and constructive and inquiry notice of recorded documents. The client prevailed substantially. See, 576 B.R. 325 (Adversary Proceeding Case No. 09–00504) (U.S. Bankruptcy Ct, S.D. N.Y. 2017).

1981, Michigan; 1982, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; 1984, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.

University of Michigan (A.B., 1972); De Paul University (J.D., 1980). Business Manager, De Paul Law Review, 1979 – 1980. Recipient, Searle Scholarship Award.

Real Estate; Condominium; Zoning; Construction; Mortgage Foreclosure; Historic Preservation; Oil and Gas.