Warner Norcross + Judd LLP attorney James L. Liggins Jr. has been selected one of the Notable Black Leaders by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.
Notable Black Leaders are individuals who have had significant influence in West Michigan’s business community. They serve in a senior leadership role at their company or organization and in their industry or community organizations, have at least a decade of experience in their field and have demonstrated significant accomplishments within their industry or community. Honorees will be recognized in a special section of the Sept. 16 print edition of Crain’s Grand Rapids Business and online at crainsgrandrapids.com.
Liggins’ nomination read in part: “James significantly enriches his community and industry through various roles. He serves others with purpose, a desire to help and a smile. He is at home in a boardroom, courtroom, church pew or community picnic. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, he is a man who is actually in the arena.”
Liggins serves as senior counsel in Warner’s Kalamazoo office, where he runs a multifaceted practice encompassing construction litigation, property disputes and real estate concerns, as well as business contractual disputes, criminal defense, health care issues and emergency manager matters.
He was recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for business litigation in 2023. Active professionally, Liggins was appointed by the governor to the State Board of Ethics and serves as president of the West Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and co-chair of the Judicial Qualifications Committee of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a founding member of the Charles A. Pratt Bar Association and was recently appointed to the Board of Commissioners for the State Bar of Michigan. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Kalamazoo Bar Association, State Bars of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois and a past member of the American Inns of Court.
Passionate about helping his local community in meaningful ways, Liggins serves on the boards for Western Michigan University, Bronson Healthcare Group, Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Southwest Michigan First and Greenleaf Trust. He is former board chair for Kalamazoo Defender, an indigent defense organization he co-founded. He also previously oversaw Michigan’s high school mock trial program.
About Warner
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