James joined Nix Patterson in 2018, with his practice focusing on complex civil litigation and personal injury. Prior to joining the firm, James spent thirteen years practicing business litigation at an esteemed civil litigation boutique firm in Oklahoma City. James has been a key litigator on some of Nix Patterson’s most high-profile victories, including the State of Oklahoma’s litigation against the opioid industry, which to date has resulted in nearly $1 billion in gross recoveries for the State.
Before entering private practice, James clerked for the Honorable Robin J. Cauthron during her tenure as Chief Judge of the Western District of Oklahoma. Later in his career, James would return to public service and clerk for the Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, currently Chief Judge of the Western District of Oklahoma.
James attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the American Indian Law Review. During law school, James interned for Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin of the Western District of Oklahoma, the Honorable Charles Johnson of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Oklahoma State Senate.
James is a past recipient of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Fern Holland Courageous Lawyer Award and Pro Bono Award for his work as co-counsel on the trial team challenging Oklahoma’s referendum vote banning same-sex marriage.
Some of James’s notable Cases include: Bishop v. Smith, 760 F.3d 1070 (10th Cir. 2014); Wilspec Techs., Inc. v. DunAn Holding Grp., Co., 204 P.3d 69 (Okla. 2009); and State ex rel. Dep’t of Transportation v. Wolfe, 273 P.3d 78 (Okla. Civ. App. 2011)
