For the Honorable Charles E. Jones, Vice Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
1998, J.D., Brigham Young University, Order of the Coif, Editor-in-Chief, Brigham Young University Law Review, Member of the Trial Advocacy Program
1994, B.A., History, Brigham Young University
Utah State Bar
Member, Utah State Bar, Real Property section
Member, Utah State Bar, Litigation section
Member, West Bountiful City Council
Former, member & chair, West Bountiful Planning Commission (2004-2011)
Mr. Ahlstrom is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation group. He has handled a broad range of litigation matters before federal and state courts including construction disputes (including mechanics’ lien defense and foreclosure actions), landlord/tenant disputes (including unlawful detainer actions), contract disputes, land use and zoning disputes, real property/real estate disputes, government and regulatory issues, and debtor/creditor relations.
In addition, Mr. Ahlstrom has specialized experience in issues that involve professional employer organizations, traditional employee leasing companies, and secured transactions (Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code). He also has resolved disputes regarding non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and general aspects of employer good will and intellectual property/trade secrets.
Mr. Ahlstrom is a member of the West Bountiful City Council and served on the West Bountiful Planning Commission from 2004 – 2011.
Mr. Ahlstrom has been awarded an AV rating, the highest awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. He is has continually been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® editions for his work in Commercial Litigation. James is regularly recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of its “Future Stars” based on feedback from clients and peers in the areas of Securities and Energy. He was recognized by Mountain States Super Lawyers in business litigation and has been continuously listed in Utah Business magazine as one of Utah’s Legal Elite.
Year after year, Parr Brown has been rated by Chambers and other organizations as one of the top real estate firms in the State. A considerable part of Mr. Ahlstrom’s practice has involved working in this area, including helping prepare and review documents associated with commercial transactions, preparing and reviewing development agreements, and assisting clients in interacting with government entities to obtain permits and other development entitlements. He has appeared before numerous planning commissions and city council bodies to pursue clients’ real property interests. He has helped landlords and tenants prepare and review leases, amendments, estoppel certificates, and related documents. He has helped owners and lenders prepare promissory notes, deeds of trust, and other real property documents.
When disputes arise, Mr. Ahlstrom also has extensive experience litigating from start to finish any aspects of real estate litigation, landlord/tenant disputes, and construction litigation. Such litigation has included boundary disputes, quiet title actions, unlawful detainer actions, construction litigation of all kinds (including delay and termination claims), and non-judicial trustee’s sales under deeds of trust as well as follow-up actions to disburse excess funds. He also has pursued enforcement and interpretation of loan documents when lenders and borrowers encounter differences.
Mr. Ahlstrom’s experiences makes him the rare real estate attorney with experience both drafting and reviewing real estate documents and litigating over documents when disputes arise.