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Justin D. Markell

An able attorney is not merely an adviser but a thought partner.

My Approach

In a world ever more complex and contentious, compromise—getting to “yes”—is critical to our most basic and our most sophisticated interactions.  Essential to compromise, whether between individuals disputing a $500 rental contract or corporations exploring a billion dollar merger, is the ability to communicate. As a transactional attorney, I bridge the gaps of communication between competing interests to find compromise. To get to “yes.”

Having been both an advisor of clients and a client, I enjoy a unique understanding of client needs. I understand the risks and obstacles of my clients  because I have faced them myself. I’ve been the one signing land leases the night before a planned closing; I’ve stood in front of county commissioners seeking consent on contentious projects. I represent my clients, not at arm’s length on the other side of the table, but by establishing relationships with them from my time in the trenches, working with them to make sure everything is in place for a successful project.

A Groundbreaking Moment in My Career

Before and during law school, I was a project developer for one of the world's largest independent renewable energy companies. I managed land acquisition, permitting, and other development efforts across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, including one of Minnesota’s largest operational wind energy facilities, a 200 megawatt wind farm in southeastern Minnesota.

I attended law school part-time while working full-time: learning legal concepts at night; applying them practically the next day. This total immersion in the law allowed me to maximize my legal training, providing me a unique perspective I now offer my clients.

Honors & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America© Ones to Watch

Real Estate Law, 2022

Associations & Memberships

Wayzata School Board

Boundary Reconfiguration Committee, Member, 2015

City of Maple Grove, MN

Planning Commissioner, 2007-2009

City of Plymouth

Planning Commission, 2018-present