Mr. Gronning, a shareholder in the firm, has been practicing law with the firm since 1983. He is a 1983 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He holds a master’s degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University (Pembroke College) (1979). He received his B.A. in political science in 1979 from Franklin College in Indiana.

Mr. Gronning represents numerous individuals and private business entities in litigation and commercial transactions. He has litigated in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts on state and federal law issues. He has tried cases involving real estate, insurance, partnership and employment disputes. He successfully defended a national franchiser in major litigation involving a dispute with a franchisee, which was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has represented the owner and developer of a fiber optic cable in a multinational dispute involving its formation and operation, and subsequent business disputes. He has represented mining companies and native corporations in negotiating many types of contracts, including mining and timber harvesting contracts. Mr. Gronning has been involved in extensive state and federal administrative hearings, representing Alaska rural school districts over federal impact aid school funding issues and capital project matters. He has also litigated employment termination cases. He represented a hotel builder against an insurer on a claim exceeding $5 million, and prevailed in collecting the full amount of the builder’s claim. He has substantial and ongoing experience litigating insurance coverage issues in commercial and business policies.

He has represented insurance brokers in disputes between insurers and insureds, and in state administrative agency proceedings. He has represented real estate brokers in suits involving real estate transactions and has also represented buyers and sellers in real estate litigation. He has litigated land ownership, title, adverse possession and easement disputes.

Reported Decisions: McLaughlin v. Lougee, 137 P.3d 267 (Alaska 2006).