Resume
JOHN H. BRENNAN
EDUCATION:
Legal: Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law
Chicago, Illinois
Degree of Juris Doctor (June, 1976)
Undergraduate: College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Arts in History (June, 1973)
ADMISSION TO PRACTICE:
State of Minnesota: October 1, 1976
State of Illinois: November 3, 1976
EMPLOYMENT:
Ramier and Gries (November, 1976 – May, 1980)
Responsibilities included management of various litigation files in a five lawyer, general practice firm. Exposure to and experience in personal injury, property damage, mechanic’s lien, commercial and domestic litigation. Limited exposure to non-litigation, general practice matters, including residential real estate transactions.
Sole Practitioner (June, 1980 – December, 1986)
Engaged in general practice of law, with emphasis in the fields of real estate and general trial law. Real estate practice involved representation of large and small brokers, investors, lenders and buyers and sellers of both residential and commercial properties.
Huffman & Brennan (January, 1987 – May, 1993)
As a partner in a three lawyer, general practice firm, I continued to specialize in real estate law, together with general litigation work. I continued to engage in various work on behalf of lenders, including loan documentation and foreclosures.
Sole Practitioner (June, 1993 – July, 2020)
Since dissolving my former partnership, I continued to specialize in real estate law, including related litigation, mediation and arbitration, as well as representation of brokers, developers, builders, lenders, sellers and buyers in both commercial and residential transactions.
Sanford, Pierson, Thone and Strean (August, 2020 – December, 2022)
As I worked toward retirement, I joined the Sanford firm in an “Of Counsel” capacity. In addition to working on files for existing clients, I continued to arbitrate and mediate real estate related disputes.
CERTIFICATION:
Certified as a real property law specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association from January 1, 1990 (the first year such certification was available), through 2022.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES / ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Mediator of real estate related disputes (Rule 114 Qualified Neutral). Arbitration of such disputes.
Frequent lecturer for the Minnesota State Bar Association (Minnesota CLE) on such topics as Contracts for Deed, Disclosure Requirements and Representation of Parties in Real Estate Transactions and various aspects of real estate law and practice. Presented numerous seminars to licensed real estate brokers and salespeople relative to various topics of real estate law, including risk management and claims avoidance.
Author of Contracts for Deed chapter of Minnesota Real Estate Purchase & Sale Deskbook, Second Edition, 2015 (Updated 2022).
Former member of the Civil Litigation and Real Property Sections of the Minnesota State Bar Association and former member of the Fourth Judicial District Ethics Committee.
Perennially named a “Super Lawyer” through Minnesota Law and Politics.
Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell until retirement.
REFERENCES:
Available upon request.