overview
James R. Cambridge has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of business law, finance, and real estate.
Practice Areas
Bio
Jim has considerable experience in business law, finance, and real estate. Businesses of all kinds rely on his experience, judgment, diligence, and ability to resolve the many challenges they often face.
His clients have included private and public companies in the manufacturing, finance, real estate, retail, service, technology and transportation industries. Jim’s clients have also included professional athletes, corporate CEOs and other high net worth individuals. Jim serves as counsel for a number of businesses and handles a variety of matters such as business formations, contracts, employment, lending relationships, restructurings, real estate (including leasing, and the buying, selling and development of real estate), resolving troubled business situations and buying and selling businesses. Jim has considerable experience in advising closely-held businesses.
Jim is a past Chairperson of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and also served as the Chairman of the Legislative Drafting Committee of business and tax lawyers that wrote the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act.
He is frequently honored for legal excellence by his clients and other attorneys. Jim is a Fellow in the Michigan State Bar Foundation and received the Outstanding Business Lawyer Award from the State Bar of Michigan’s Business Law Section. He is consistently listed in Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; Who’s Who in American Law; and The Best Lawyers in America®. Jim is noted as a “Michigan Super Lawyer” and being among the “Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan.” Jim has also been named among “Detroit’s Best Lawyers” by Thomson Reuters, and is rated a “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness Magazine. He has also been named a “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” in Corporate Law in Detroit by The Best Lawyers in America®. Jim is also listed among the top twenty “Go To Business Lawyers” in Michigan by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He has achieved preeminent AV ranking from Martindale Hubbell, reflecting the highest standards of legal ability, professional ethics and integrity.
A respected attorney and author, Jim lectures and publishes regularly on business law and planning. He has written numerous articles and books, including the highly regarded Michigan Limited Liability Companies. Jim is also a contributing author to Advising Closely Held Businesses in Michigan.
credentials
Affiliations
- State Bar of Michigan
- Business Law Section – Past Chairperson
- International Law Section
- Real Property Law Section
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Business Law Section
- International Law Section
- Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Detroit Chinese Business Association, Advisory Board
Bar and Court Admissions
- Michigan
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Education
- Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, J.D.
- Central Michigan University, B.S.
Insights & News
August 18, 2022
Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America© 2023 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
August 12, 2022
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
May 9, 2022
Court Ruling Offers New Consideration for Corporate Officers, Directors and LLC Managers
August 24, 2021
SBA Extends PPP Loan Repayment Period
August 19, 2021
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List
January 15, 2021
Second Round of PPP Money Now Available
November 16, 2020
22 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness 2021 Top Lawyers
October 6, 2020
“Now What?”: Supreme Court’s COVID-19 Executive Order Decision
September 18, 2020
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 20, 2020
Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America© 2021 and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
August 6, 2020
FAQs on PPP Loan Forgiveness: Key Takeaways
July 14, 2020
15 Lawyers From Kerr Russell Recognized as Leading Lawyers 2020
May 18, 2020
SBA Releases Loan Forgiveness Application and Instructions
March 17, 2020
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Business Continuity: A Message to Our Community, Clients and Friends
November 15, 2019
19 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized as DBusiness Top Lawyers for 2020
September 3, 2019
15 Kerr Russell Attorneys Recognized on the 2019 Michigan Super Lawyers List
August 15, 2019
James Cambridge (Corporate Law) and Joanne Geha Swanson (Litigation - Antitrust) Named Best Lawyers® 2020 “Lawyers Of The Year” In Detroit
August 15, 2019
15 Lawyers From Kerr Russell Are Recognized In The Best Lawyers In America© 2020
May 9, 2019
Kerr Russell Attorneys Advise Peterson in Sale to MiddleGround Capital
September 20, 2018
Kerr Russell recognizes our 2018 dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees
September 11, 2018
Sneak peek of Dbusiness Magazine Top Lawyers photo shoot with Kerr Russell
September 7, 2018
15 Kerr Russell attorneys recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers
September 6, 2018
Kerr Russell attorneys, friends attend second annual New Americans Appreciation Gala - September 6 at The Henry
August 30, 2018
Kerr Russell team places first at Detroit Chinese Business Association golf outing
August 15, 2018
15 lawyers from Kerr Russell were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019
April 23, 2018
Kerr Russell colleagues and family members spend Earth Day 2018 volunteering at Votrobeck Playground
April 5, 2018
Fred Herrmann honored at Michigan Lawyers Weekly's "Leaders in the Law" luncheon
March 22, 2018
Kerr Russell congratulates Jack Richert of Special Tree Rehabilitation System, a deserving recipient of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan's Legacy Society Community Service and Leadership Award
February 14, 2018
Kerr Russell lunch and learn with Sterling Insurance Group
January 26, 2018
Download Kerr Russell's updated firm brochure and overview of services
January 3, 2018
Kerr Russell highlighted in Best Lawyers - Business, Winter 2017 issue
December 18, 2017
Kerr Russell team makes holiday donations to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, and Children's Hospital of Michigan
December 12, 2017
Kate McCarroll named one of Crain's Business Detroit's Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan - 2017
December 12, 2017
Kate McCarroll named one of Crain's Business Detroit's Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan - 2017
December 7, 2017
William Blasses honored as Up & Coming Lawyer at Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2017 luncheon
November 30, 2017
Merry and bright ... Kerr Russell welcomes the holiday season
November 30, 2017
Kerr Russell, Boulevard Investment lunch and learn
November 17, 2017
Detroit Legal News covers Detroit Chinese Business Association recognition of Kerr Russell, and Jim Cambridge on ChinaDaily.com (Michigan trade group spurs China-US ties)
November 16, 2017
Culture of Connection - new Kerr Russell ad to appear in Michigan Lawyers Weekly and dbusiness
November 11, 2017
Detroit Free Press features Detroit Chinese Business Association US/China Auto Expo, Kerr Russell
November 3, 2017
Kerr Russell launches new advertising in upcoming issues of dbusiness and Crain's Detroit
November 3, 2017
Kerr Russell recognizes this year’s dbusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit honorees
November 1, 2017
Kerr Russell ranked in the 2018 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list nationally in 1 practice area and regionally in 17 practice areas
September 27, 2017
business Magazine covers Kerr Russell's participation in Detroit Chinese Business Association International Golf Outing
September 12, 2017
16 Kerr Russell attorneys recognized as 2017 Super Lawyers
August 21, 2017
17 lawyers from Kerr Russell were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018
August 10, 2017
A culture of giving
November 7, 2016
Kerr Russell attorneys named 2017 Top Lawyers by dBusiness Magazine
November 1, 2016
Kerr Russell Attorneys Named 2016 Super Lawyers
November 15, 2013
James R. Cambridge and Chaoyi Ding publish article in the Michigan Bar Journal highlighting the Detroit Chinese Business Association
Representative Matters
Multiple acquisitions and sales of companies of various sizes, in various industries
Formed multiple US subsidiaries of various Chinese enterprises
Formed multiple joint ventures in US, China and Mexico
Multiple acquisitions and dispositions of property
Advised several early-stage and late-stage start-ups during various rounds of funding and growth
Successfully managed multi-million dollar property tax settlement
Managed several complex litigation cases to successful conclusion
Successfully negotiated resolution of several shareholder disputes
Structured various complex business transactions and contracts