professional credentials
- Member, Inquiry Committee Southeast (2018 – 2024), Past Chairperson
- Member, North Dakota Judicial Conference (2016-2024)
- Member, State Bar Association of North Dakota (2005-present)
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association (2016-present)
- Board of Governors, State Bar Association of North Dakota (2014-2016)
- President, Southeast Judicial District Bar Association (2014-2016)
- Vice President, Southeast Judicial District Bar Association (2010-2014)
- Treasurer, Southeast Judicial District Bar Association (2008-2010)
- Member, North Dakota State’s Attorneys’ Association (2006-2014)
- Board of Directors, Abused Persons Outreach Center (2008-2013)
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Admitted to practice in North Dakota Supreme Court, since 2005
- Admitted to practice in North Dakota Federal Court, since 2007
- Admitted to practice in Minnesota Supreme Court, since 2016
- Admitted to practice in Minnesota Federal Court in 2025
Lee is not licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction not identified above.
Publications
BACKGROUND
Lee concentrates his practice in the areas of construction litigation and commercial litigation. Lee’s practice includes business disputes, payment disputes, breach of contract, construction defects, construction negligence, express warranties, implied warranties, and construction liens and mechanic’s liens. He helps clients in all stages of a lawsuit, including mediation, arbitration, and jury trial. Lee also has extensive appellate experience. He has appeared before the North Dakota Supreme Court over 50 times.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Lee is a shareholder with SW&L and has been with the firm since 2016. Prior to joining SW&L, Lee was the Barnes County State’s Attorney and worked at a small private practice in Valley City, North Dakota.
EDUCATION HISTORY
Lee earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and history from Concordia College (Moorhead). He bumbled around on the football team, where he excelled at memorizing the playbook but not at actually playing.
Lee attended the University of North Dakota School of Law. While there, he concentrated on courses in trial advocacy. During law school, Lee wrote an article for the North Dakota Law Review titled: “Oil and Gas Law: When It Comes to Restrictive Covenants, Whose Idea of Reasonable Is Correct, the Oil Company’s or the Landman’s?” The article was published in 2005.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Lee grew up in Velva, North Dakota and worked nearly every manual labor job imaginable. Lee and his wife Megan live in Fargo with their two kids. In his free time, Lee enjoys staying active and playing sports with his kids, including those at which he is very bad.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Lee served as an adjunct professor at Valley City State University, teaching courses in criminal justice. Lee earned the Adjunct Special Appointments Faculty Excellence Award in 2016.
Lee helped organize the SW&L Charitable Fund, which supports charitable causes throughout the region. He has also been involved as a Cub Scout pack leader and volunteer coach.