During his 35 years as a Twin Cities-based real estate attorney, Jim Walston has served a wide range of clients on everything from commercial real estate purchases to public transportation projects.

Walston, a partner with the Ballard Spahr law firm in Minneapolis, has stayed busy of late representing his clients’ interests as states and cities renew restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In the following interview, Walston speaks with reporter Brian Johnson about how commercial landlords and tenants are dealing with challenges related to the pandemic, civil unrest and more.