James B. Durham
Biography
James B. Durham is a Partner in the HBS Brunswick office. He is a past President of the State Bar of Georgia and a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Throughout his career, Jim has been involved in complex civil litigation including commercial litigation, construction litigation, industrial accidents, products liability defense, professional negligence, medical malpractice defense, shareholder derivative actions, and mining law and mineral resource litigation.
He was in trial for several months in the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel fire case representing International Elevators, a division of Otis Elevators. He is involved extensively in commercial litigation, including trade secret litigation, contractual dispute litigation, partnership/shareholder disputes, covenants not to compete, shareholder derivative actions, tax litigation, and large industrial accidents for corporate clients. He assists his clients with OSHA investigations and hearings.
Jim has been involved in medical malpractice defense work representing physicians and hospitals throughout South Georgia. During his 30 plus-year career, he has represented numerous insurance companies in matters involving personal injury defense, coverage issues, and first party defense.
Jim graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in 1980. Jim received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia in 1983. While at the University of Georgia, Jim was President of the Student Union, President of Gridiron, President of Sphinx Honorary Society, and President of Blue Key Honorary Society. He has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since his graduation in 1983.
He is admitted to practice in all courts in Georgia, including the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. Jim is further admitted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States
Jim has been a AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™ with Martindale-Hubbell for over twenty years. He has been selected as a Georgia Super Lawyer every year beginning in 2005 and has been consistently selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America.
Credentials
Admitted
State Courts
- Georgia
- Court of Appeals, Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
U.S. Courts of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
- J.D., University of Georgia, 1983
- B.A., cum laude, University of Georgia, 1980
Memberships
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Brunswick-Glynn County Bar Association; Executive Committee, 1986-1990; President, 1989; Vice President, 1988; Secretary, 1987; Member
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Member
- Judicial Qualifications Commission, 2004-2013
- Advisory Committee to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Member, 2008-2012
- Institute of Continuing Judicial Education, Trustee, 2004-2005
- Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency; Trustee, 2004-2008; Chairman, 2008
- Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Chairman, 2003-2004
- American Bar Association, House of Delegates Member, 2003
- State Bar of Georgia; President, 2002-2003; President-Elect, 2001-2002; Treasurer, 1999-2001; Member
- Executive Committee, 1996-2004
- Board of Governors, 1990-2004
- Committee on Legislation, Chairman, 1999-2000
- Special Advisory Committee to the Pro-Bono Project
- Disciplinary Rules & Procedures Committee
- Judicial Procedure & Administration Committee
- Organization of State Bar Advertising Committee
- Court Futures Committee
- State Disciplinary Board Review Panel; Chairman, 1995; Vice Chairman, 1994
- Leadership Georgia, 1997
- Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Member
Experience
Throughout his legal career, Jim has been involved in a variety of complex civil litigation cases, including products liability defense and both trucking industry and mineral resource litigation. He represented International Elevators, a division of Otis Elevators, in a major case related to a hotel fire.
During his more than 30 years of practicing law, Jim has represented numerous insurance companies in matters involving personal injury defense, coverage issues, and first-party defense.
Jim frequently handles medical malpractice defense work, representing physicians and hospitals throughout South Georgia.
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Best Lawyers®, 2006-2025
- Georgia Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers®, 2008-2023
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™, Martindale-Hubbell