William D. Harper
of Counsel
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