William D. Harper

William D. Harper is a top-rated attorney focusing on Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death. Additionally, he also helps clients with legal issues in the following areas of law:  Plaintiff and Professional Liability.

William Harper received Super Lawyers designation for 1994, 1996 – 2023. He was selected for this honor subsequent to undergoing an evaluation of many different factors including peer recognition and professional achievement.

He became a licensed attorney in 1977. Before practicing law, he attended law school at Hamline University School of Law and graduated in 1977.

BAR INFORMATION:

Admitted to Minnesota Bar, 1977

Admitted to U.S. District Court, District Of Minnesota Bar, 1978

Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, 1981

SPECIALTY BOARD CERTIFICATION:

Civil Trial Advocate – Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1986

Recertified 1991, 2001

Civil Trial Specialist – Certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association, 1988

Recertified 1994 to present

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Memberships:    

Minnesota State Bar Association,

Washington County Bar Association,

Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association:

Member Board of Governors, August 1986 – present

Member of the Executive Committee, 1989, 1993

Chair Person, Litigation Support Committee, 1988

Chair Person, Finance Committee, 1990

Treasurer, 1994-1995

Secretary, 1995-1996

Vice President, 1996-1997

President Elect, 1997-1998

President, 1998-1999

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Sustaining Member – Board of Governors, 2007-2010

The Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota

Secretary, 1991

Dean Elect, 1992

Dean, 1993

Organizer and Master – Justice Amdahl Inn of Court, 1992

Master to present

Minnesota Consumer Alliance – Board of Directors – 1997-1998

American Arbitration Association

Charter member – American Creativity Association

Elected to the American Board of Trial Advocacy – 1999  

Invited Member of The National Trial Lawyers Association

Invited Member of the American Board of Trial Lawyers

Invited Member of the International Society of Barristers   

LAW SCHOOL INFORMATION:

Hamline University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1977

UNDERGRADUATE INFORMATION:

University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts, 1972

Majors: English, Humanities, and Studio Arts

PERSONAL DATA:

Date of birth:            July 23, 1948

Place of birth:           Duluth, Minnesota

Marital status:          Married to Trudy Harper; two children

ARTICLES AND BOOKS:

Harper, W.D. “Proving an Insurers Course of Conduct.” Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association Magazine.

Harper, W.D.,  “The Use of Nonexpert Damages Witnesses (chapter 16).” In Litigating Spinal Cord Injuries: Law, Medicine, and Economics, M.R. Kosieradzki, Wiley Law Publications, 1995

SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS:

See Our Seminar Presentations Page

MARTINDALE-HUBBELL:

Rating – AV

FIRM AFFILIATIONS:

1977 – 1979            Daly and Harper

1979 – 1980            Streefland, Daly and Harper

1980 – 1983            Harper and Wirth

1983 – 1989            Harper and Anderson, Chartered

1990 – 1993            Harper & Harper, Chartered

1994 – 1999            William D. Harper, Chartered

2000 – present        Harper & Peterson, P.L.L.C.

HONORS:

Lawyer of the Year, 1999 – Minnesota Lawyer Newspaper

Lawyer of the Year, 2011 – Minnesota Lawyer Newspaper

Featured by American Research Corporation in their book “Law and  Leading Attorneys”

Invited Member – Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Invited Member – Minnesota Million-Dollar Roundtable

Invited Member – American Board of Trial Advocates

Minnesota’s top 100 Super Lawyers – from inception to present by Minnesota Law and Politics

Minnesota’s top 40 Super Lawyers – by Minnesota Law and Politics

Advisory Editorial Board for the Minnesota Lawyer legal newspaper-1998 to present

Past American Association for Justice Board of Governor from Minnesota

32° Mason – Past Master Newport Lodge #118

Appointed to the Governing Committee of the Minnesota Automobile            Insurance Plan – 2013

Lifetime Achievement Award – Minnesota Association for Justice 2013

Invited member of the International Society of Barristers.                      

Committee member of the Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure 2016.