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Attorney Profile
- Name: James A. List, Esq.
- Position: Of Counsel
- Phone: 410-828-4442
- Email: JimL@BrezaLaw.com
- Address: 11019 McCormick Rd., Suite 400, Hunt Valley, MD 21030
- Social Network:
Credentials
- J.D. – University of Baltimore
- B.A. – University of Maryland, Baltimore County - Cum Laude
- Bar License: MD
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BIOGRAPHY
James A. List is an experienced estate planning, business and trial attorney with over 35 years of experience in the Mid-Atlantic area. Mr. List works with families and business owners on asset protection planning, charitable gifting strategies, and special needs planning.
He provides clients with services in corporate governance, business entity formation, strategic partnerships, stock and asset sales, tax planning, estate planning, employment agreements, real estate leasing and transactions, succession planning, contract negotiation, and commercial litigation.
Mr. List also prepares business continuation and succession plans for his corporate clients and coordinates the retirement and estate plans for individual owners. He is a frequent lecturer on topics such as business continuation planning, risk management, special needs trusts and estate planning and charitable gifting strategies.
In the commercial arena, Mr. List has represented physicians, technology companies, manufacturers, contractors and real estate investors, and has negotiated and prepared business acquisition and merger transactions, operating agreements and buy-sell agreements, employment contracts, and equipment and real estate leases. He has extensive trial experience enforcing restrictive covenants and contracts and representing owners and entities in governance disputes.
Mr. List joined Breza Law after many years of representing clients in his solo practice. Prior to practicing as a solo practitioner, Mr. List represented clients for some of the largest and most well-respected law firms in the State of Maryland.
EDUCATION
Mr. List is a Baltimore native who has been actively involved in the Metropolitan and Lower Eastern Shore communities. He attended law school and college in Baltimore. He has testified as an advocate throughout his 35 years of practice. His many board memberships and leadership experience with non-profit entities is a testament to his desire to give back to this community. His background in banking and technology prior to and while attending law school serves clients and non-profits. His education and background make him unique amongst estate planning colleagues. He understands not only the law but also how finances work in life and death. He will work to advocate for his clients with professionalism and compassion and is one of the most well-respected Trusts and Estates attorneys in the State of Maryland.
AFFILIATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore: Elected to Board 7/1/17. Volunteer of the Year, 2019. Vice Chair, 2021-2022. Development Chair 2022-Present
The Ward Museum: Board Member 2014-2018. Currently, General Counsel
The Arc Baltimore: Board Member 2006 – 2015, Board Emeritus, 2015, Board President 2011-2013 (Chapter Volunteer of the Year, 2013, Harry R. Shriver President’s Cup, 2014)
Salisbury Chamber of Commerce: 2013-2016. Ocean City Chamber of Commerce: 2017 – Present
Maryland State Bar Association: 1985, Wicomico County Bar Association: 2013 – 2016, Worcester County Bar Association 2016 – Present.
The Red Devils: Chair of Annual Fundraising Stroll Event, 2006-2007. Board Member 2006-2009
Instructor/Panelist: Judicial Institute Business and Technology Case Management Program (2003, 2004)
Producer and Regular guest of business radio show Maryland Business Review on WBAL 2002-2003
PUBLICATIONS
“A Lay Person’s Guide to Estate Planning,” First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth & Seventh Editions (1998, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2023)
Numerous articles on Endowment Building, Estate Taxes, Risk Management, Special Needs Trusts, Succession Planning.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“Business Risk Management,” Ocean City Chamber of Commerce 2023.
“Special Needs Trusts” Upper Chesapeake ARC, Chesapeake Financial Group, Penn-Mar, 2004, 2005, The Arc Baltimore, 2009, 2013, Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parent Group, 2015.
“Layperson’s Guide to Estate Planning” Maryland Soil Conservation, Southern Maryland So Good Conference 2005, 2006, Maryland Forest Conservation, 2006, Ferris Baker Watts, 2006, Carrier Mid-Atlantic Dealers, 2006, Merrill Lynch, 2014
“Conservation Easements and Estate Planning,” Valley Planning Counsel, 2006, 2007
“Charitable Giving Strategies,” The Red Cross, 2001, Penn-Mar, 2004, The Arc Baltimore, 2008, 2014, Park School (2007), St. James School (2005)
“Succession Planning” M&T Bank, Legg Mason Wood & Walker, 2005, 2006
“LLCS: Advising Small Business Start Up’s and Larger Companies in Maryland,” Lorman Education and National Business Institute on Business Entities, 2004
CASE REFERENCES
In 2016 – 2017, Mr. List represented Somerset County in the arbitration action regarding the Crisfield Library project.
He has testified as corporate counsel and as a corporate and trusts & estates expert in depositions and trials, including:
Hoffman v. Hoffman, Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Case No: 03-C-94-004522, and
Sarigianis v. Sarigianis, Circuit Court for Carroll County, Case No: 06-C-13-062914, and
Colon-Ramos v. Zerhouni/Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Case No. C-03-FM-20-002399.