About James
Jim is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include admiralty, business, cybersecurity, data privacy, railroad/transit, and unmanned systems. Jim has tried over 100 cases to jury verdicts for clients involving a broad range of legal disputes.Jim advises governing boards and senior leadership regarding risks and resolution strategies in high-profile cases. His service as general counsel to companies, and as a director and officer of several non-profit organizations, helps clients resolve difficult challenges and plan strategically.From 2013 - 2017, Jim served on the governing board of Virginia Tech, and was chair (Rector) of the board in 2016 - 2017. Virginia Tech is a leading research university with an annual budget of $1.5 billion, serving over 30,000 students. The University’s motto is Ut Prosim, Latin for “That I May Serve,” which is Jim’s passion for both his alma mater and his clients.
Jim is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include admiralty, business, cybersecurity, data privacy, railroad/transit, and unmanned systems. Jim has tried over 100 cases to jury verdicts for clients involving a broad range of legal disputes.
Jim advises governing boards and senior leadership regarding risks and resolution strategies in high-profile cases. His service as general counsel to companies, and as a director and officer of several non-profit organizations, helps clients resolve difficult challenges and plan strategically.
From 2013 - 2017, Jim served on the governing board of Virginia Tech, and was chair (Rector) of the board in 2016 - 2017. Virginia Tech is a leading research university with an annual budget of $1.5 billion, serving over 30,000 students. The University’s motto is Ut Prosim, Latin for “That I May Serve,” which is Jim’s passion for both his alma mater and his clients.
Education
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Admiralty and Maritime Law, Norfolk (2021)
- Recognized: Admiralty and Maritime Law
- Recognized: Commercial Litigation
- Recognized: Litigation - Insurance
- Recognized: Railroad Law
- Practice Area: Arbitration
- Practice Area: Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Practice Area: Corporate Governance Law
- Practice Area: Insurance Law
- Practice Area: Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Practice Area: Litigation - Environmental
- Practice Area: Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Practice Area: Litigation - Municipal
- Practice Area: Mediation
- Practice Area: Municipal Law
- Practice Area: Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Practice Area: Privacy and Data Security Law
- Practice Area: Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Practice Area: Transportation Law
- Special Focus: COVID-19
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected as a Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2013
- Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers, Transportation/Maritime, 2006-2018
- Listed in Virginia's Legal Elite, Civil Litigation, Virginia Business Magazine, 2011, 2014
- Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission Award, 2003