Get to Know Adam Linkner

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

Attorney Adam Linkner is a member of the Hooper Hathaway litigation team. His practice includes an emphasis on complex litigation, commercial torts, construction litigation, trade secret/unfair competition, antitrust/competition law, and appellate matters.  Some of his recent experience includes successfully representing client/plaintiff in obtaining a $15.1 million jury verdict in federal action alleging civil RICO, fraud, and breach of contract.

Prior to Hooper Hathaway Linkner practiced with Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. and Varnum in Michigan, and clerked for Hon. Ed Carnes, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.  He also co-founded the online advertising companies eatblue.com and Ugrub.com, and the promotions company Ubars.

An Ann Arbor resident, Linkner earned his juris doctor and MBA from Emory University, where he graduated ranked first in his law school class, served as a managing editor of the Emory Law Journal, and was inducted into the business school’s Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Linkner earned his undergraduate business degree, with high distinction, from the University of Michigan.

What would surprise people about your job? Many people I speak to believe lawyers create unnecessary problems. However, I find much of my job is solving problems.

Why did you become a lawyer? I was a member of the mock trial team at Community High School in Ann Arbor. The challenge and excitement of mock trial made me interested in becoming a lawyer. 

What advice do you have for someone considering law school? I would emphasize two points. First, that he/she should seriously consider taking time off before going to law school—for not only a break from school, but a chance to see what they really enjoy doing. Second, make sure they like (or at least do not hate) writing. Many people do not realize how much writing is involved with being a lawyer.

What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? Hearing the jury return a verdict in favor of our client and obtaining $15.1 million judgment for the client.

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be?  With one of the Michigan football coaches, so I could spend the day learning from the likes of Jim Harbaugh, Don Brown, Greg Mattison, and other staff.

What do you do to relax? Walk around Ann Arbor with my wife, son, and dog.

What other career path might you have chosen? 
Entrepreneur. Prior to law school I co-founded eatblue.com (which we sold and is still active), one of the early companies to put restaurant information online.

What would you say to your 16-year-old self?
Enjoy the next few years of Michigan football, because there will be some tough times ahead.

Favorite local hangouts? Old Town, Aventura, Isalita, Raven Club.

Favorite website? mgoblog.com.

What is your happiest childhood memory? Spending my summers up north at Camp Tanuga, Kalkaska.

What do you wish someone would invent? A way for the snooze button in the morning to actually freeze time to allow for more sleep.

What has been your favorite year so far and why? Tie between 2010 when I married my wife and 2018 with the birth of my son.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Flying.

What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? Sing (I have a terrible singing voice).

What is something most people don't know about you?
When I was 11 I was a competitive diver with the University of Michigan Kimball diving team and placed second in the county in the under-13 age bracket.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Graduating ranked first in my class from law school.
 

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