James Torgerson

Practice Areas

The only Alaskan to lead an AmLaw 200 law firm, Jim Torgerson served as Stoel’s Firm Managing Partner for four years before returning to his full-time, Alaska-based litigation practice in 2020. Over the last 35 years, Jim has tried to conclusion more than 40 cases, most to federal or state juries. He has handled more than 35 appeals, arguing cases in the Alaska Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jim’s practice reflects Alaska. For decades, he’s represented Alaska Native corporations in a wide variety of commercial disputes and governance issues. Given Alaska’s economy, he regularly appears for clients in natural resources industries, ranging from property disputes, to tax and environmental litigation. Drawing on his experience in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, where he was chief of the civil division (four years) and chief of the criminal division (two years), much of his practice is in federal court.

Jim also has been active in the Alaska Bar and Alaska’s nonprofit community, He recently served for six years on the constitutionally created Alaska Judicial Council, which reviews sitting judges and screens judicial applicants, and before that represented the Federal Court for the District of Alaska for almost a decade on the Congressionally created Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Committee. In 2016, Jim was awarded the Jay Rabinowitz Public Service Award, and in 2004 he was honored, along with his wife, as Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year by the Alaska Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Professional Memberships

- Fellow, American Bar Association Foundation

- Board Member, Anchorage Park Foundation