Gunnar Johnson

Gunnar Johnson has been practicing law since 1996.  He graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  He graduated cum laude from the American University Law School in 1994. 

Gunnar is licensed to practice in Minnesota State and Federal courts.  His primary practice areas are Municipal Law, Business law, Commercial Law, and Estate Planning.  

Gunnar was the Duluth City Attorney from 2008 to 2020.  At the City Attorney’s Office, he managed an office of 16 lawyers, paraprofessionals, and a claims adjuster.  His clients were involved in a variety of civil and criminal legal matters, including litigation, contracts, transactions, human resources issues, labor agreements, legislative matters, and claims.   

Prior to becoming the Duluth City Attorney, Gunnar worked for seven years at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office as an attorney in the Public Finance/Natural Resources Division.  He provided transactional and in-house counsel to Iron Range Resources and the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.  

He is a past president of the Minnesota Association of City Attorneys, a volunteer attorney for Legal Aid Services of Northeastern Minnesota, a former St. Louis County Planning Commission member, an International Federation of Sleddog Sports legal commission member, and three-time participant in the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.  He has been a speaker on municipal law at the local, State and national level.     

Gunnar has experience with successfully addressing numerous complex legal matters and has a bias for strategic problem solving.  He enjoys helping his clients resolve legal issues and counseling them about how to transact business to minimize legal difficulties.  He is hardworking, creative, discreet, and straightforward.