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News | November 14, 2019
2 minute read

James L. Liggins Jr. Appointed to Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors

James L. Liggins Jr., senior counsel practicing in the Kalamazoo office of Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, has been appointed to the 2020 Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors.

Liggins will begin his one-year term at the board’s Dec. 12 meeting. Southwest Michigan First serves as an economic development agency that helps create jobs in the area, grows and develops new and existing leaders and provides professional opportunities for college students. The organization’s leadership team and board work together as problem solvers, change agents, people connectors and advocates.

Liggins is a litigator who concentrates his practice on real estate litigation, construction, contract disputes, and other business matters. He also advises municipalities on civil and criminal statutes, ordinances and codes, housing code enforcement as well as property disputes. 

Active professionally and in the community, he is a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Illinois and Indiana state bar associations and the State Bar of Michigan, where he serves on the Judicial Qualifications Committee. He is also a past board member of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association and co-founder and past president of the Judge Charles A. Pratt Bar Association. He has been named to Michigan Super Lawyer’s Rising Stars list.

In addition to his professional work, Liggins serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Bronson Health Care Group and the Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation. He also serves on the board of United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region as well as serving as co-chair of the 2018 United Way Campaign Committee. He is a past board member and board chair of the Douglass Community Association.

Previously an attorney coach and now the coordinator of the statewide High School Mock program for the Michigan Center for Civic Education, Liggins is a champion for the state’s mock trial program and civic education. With the goal to increase civil discourse among youth in the state, he successfully coached his high school team and coordinated and led multiple regional and state competitions. Recently, Liggins helped secure Michigan as the host of the 2021 National High School Mock Trial Tournament, which will be held in his hometown of Kalamazoo.

About Southwest Michigan First

Founded in 1999 on the principle that the most powerful force for change is a job, Southwest Michigan First is an organization of privately funded economic development advisors who act as the catalyst for economic growth in Southwest Michigan. For more information about Southwest Michigan First, please visit www.southwestmichiganfirst.com or call 269.553.9588.

About Warner

By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP builds a better partnership with our clients. One of Michigan’s largest law firms, we’re focused on providing the best legal solutions and exceptional client service to organizations throughout the world. Connect with us on wnj.com, LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

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