Attorneys / Charles E. Jones
Charles E. Jones
Shareholder
Practice Groups
Accountants, Business & Commercial Litigation, Lawyers Professional Liability, Lawyers Professional Responsibility, Professional Liability
Biography
Charles Jones provides skilled, discerning, and ethical advocacy for, and advice to, professionals and companies. He focuses his practice on defending lawyers and accountants against malpractice and other professional liability actions, and on assisting professionals with licensing and compliance issues. Charles also advises CPAs and lawyers in risk management, compliance, and other issues. Additionally, he represents insurers in coverage issues and businesses in commercial litigation matters. Charles is a frequent speaker on limiting liability risk and professional ethics to CPAs and lawyers.
Charles’ litigation achievements span a wide range of state and federal courtrooms. He has handled cases in more than 35 state and federal jurisdictions throughout the United States and is currently licensed to practice in the state courts of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. In all of his cases, Charles uses his depth of experience to obtain the best possible results for his clients while also helping them understand the complexities and risks associated with the litigation process.
Charles serves as the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Liaison to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Lawyer’s Professional Liability. He was also recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Professional Liability Defense Federation (“PLDF”). In addition to these leadership roles, Charles co-chairs PLDF’s Accountants, Fiduciaries, Trustees and Financial Committee. Charles is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel.
Charles’ practice outside of Bassford Remele includes having served as the General Counsel of a national CPA firm, chairing the professional liability practice groups of top-25 Minnesota law firms, and working as the Associate General Counsel for a Minnesota-based software development and consulting company.
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude
- Carleton College, B.A., cum laude
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Representative Cases
- Mittelstaedt v. Henney, 969 N.W.2d 634 (Minn. 2022) (authored amicus curiae brief)
- JTF Aviation Holdings Inc. v. CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 249 Ariz. 510, 472 P.3d 526 (Ariz. 2020), 247 Ariz. 78 445 P.3d 1043 (Ariz. App. 2019)
- EPIC v. CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 199 Wash.App. 257, 402 P.3d 320 (Wash. App. 2017)
- Roseland v. Wentzell, 864 N.W.2d 356 (Minn. App. 2015)
- Afremov v. Sulloway & Hollis, PLLC, 922 F. Supp. 2d 800 (D. Minn. Feb. 7, 2013)
- Ames & Fischer Co., II, LLP v. McDonald, 798 N.W.2d 557 (Minn. App. 2011)
- Diocese of Winona v. Interstate Fire & Cas. Co., 89 F.3d 1386 (8th Cir. 1996)
Publications
- The Corporate Transparency Act: Where are we now?, author, Footnote, a publication of The Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accounts, June/July 2024, May 29, 2024
- Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act, author, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, February 15, 2024
- Planning for the Worst: Who Needs a Practice Continuation Agreement?, author, Footnote, a publication of The Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, December 2023/January 2024, January 4, 2023
- A Contract Game – Use these tips to delve in, author, Footnote, a publication of the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, November 26, 2018
Seminars
- Jokers in the Deck: Risks and Ethical Considerations In Representing Closely-Held Organizations, presenter, Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Meeting, September 18, 2025
- High Stakes: Managing Emerging Risks in a Deregulated Environment, presenter, Professional Liability Defense Federation Annual Meeting, September 18, 2025
- Recent Accountant’s Malpractice Decisions – Trends and What to Expect Going Forward, presenter, AICPA® & CIMA® ENGAGE 25, ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV, June 10, 2025
- Recent Accounting Malpractice Decisions, Trends, and What to Expect, presenter, Grand Hyatt Denver, CO, September 29, 2023
- Lessons from the Professional Liability Front: Claims Can Happen to You, presenter, December 2017
- Accountants’ Risk: Walking the Tightrope, presenter, August 2016
- Advanced Expert Witness Tactics, presenter, National Business Institute, November 2009 and October 2008
- Lawyer’s Risk Control: Building a Solid Foundation, presenter, August 2009
- Malpractice Risks for CPAs: Navigating the New Frontier, presenter, August 2009
- Employment Practices Liability, presenter, Professional Liability Underwriting Society, September 2008
Professional Achievements
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- Fourth Judicial Ethics Committee, Former Member
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Communications Committee, Chair
Bar Associations
- American Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Professionalism and Ethics Committee, Co-Chair, 2025-present
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Professional Associations
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
- Liaison to ABA Standing Committee on Lawyer’s Professional Liability, 2025-present
- Professional Liability Defense Federation
- Board of Directors, 2025-present
- Accountants, Fiduciaries, and Financial Professionals Committee, Co-Vice Chair
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
Civic Involvement
- Minneapolis Rotary Club, Member and Director of Minneapolis Rotary Foundation
- Charles is a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Mendota Heights, Minnesota; Finance Committee
- Over the years, he has been actively involved in a number of community organizations, including youth athletics; Friends of FANA, Minnesota (a nonprofit organization established to provide support and assistance for the FANA orphanage in Bogota, Colombia, and to families who have adopted from FANA); and the Minnesota Justice Foundation.
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Professional Malpractice Law, 2021-present
- Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2014-2022; 2024-present
- Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2002
