James B. Durham

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James B. Durham

Partner
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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.

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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
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  • 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

Business Litigation

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.

Insurance Coverage

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.

Medical Malpractice

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

In the Press

58 HBS Attorneys Recognized as The Best Lawyers in America® Award Recipients

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. is pleased to announce that 58 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

55 Hall Booth Smith Lawyers Recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients

We’re pleased to announce that 55 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

4 Georgia HBS Attorneys Honored in the 2023 Super Lawyers Magazine

GEORGIA – February 9, 2023 – We are excited to congratulate John E. Hall, Jr., Rush S. Smith, Jr., C. Michael Johnson, and James B. Durham as they have been recognized for their outstanding legal service and selected to the 2023 Georgia Super Lawyers list once again. John E. Hall, Jr. John Hall was honored

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored by The Best Lawyers In America 2023

47 lawyers from the firm have been honored in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Hall Booth Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers in the 2022 Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine

In the 2022 edition of the Georgia Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) will once again be recognized for its outstanding legal work as six of its attorneys are on the list of Super Lawyers: John E. Hall, Jr., C. Michael Johnson, Thomas Mazziotti, Rush S. Smith, Jr. of the

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored by The Best Lawyers In America® 2022

We’re excited to announce that 25 HBS lawyers have been recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Six Hall Booth Attorneys Selected as Super Lawyers in the 2021 Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine

In the 2021 edition of the Georgia Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) will once again be recognized for its outstanding legal work as eight of its attorneys are on the list of Super Lawyers: John E. Hall, Jr., C. Michael Johnson, Thomas Mazziotti, Rush S. Smith, Jr. of the

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored By The Best Lawyers In America© 2021

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce 24 lawyers from the firm were honored in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© . This award is based on an evaluation process that includes a collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from attorneys in the same field. These HBS

HBS Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Brunswick Office

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. is proud to have become one of the leading full-service firms in the Southeast over the past 30 years, and the firm is pleased to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its office in Brunswick, Georgia. Soon after Hall Booth Smith opened for business in Atlanta, the firm’s leaders realized there was

HBS Attorneys Recognized as 2020 Georgia Super Lawyers

In the 2020 edition of the Georgia Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) will once again be recognized for its outstanding legal work as eight of its attorneys are on the list of Super Lawyers: John E. Hall, Jr., Michael Hannan, C. Michael Johnson, Thomas Mazziotti, Rush S. Smith, Jr.

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored By The Best Lawyers In America© 2020

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce 24 lawyers from the firm were honored in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© . This award is based on an evaluation process that includes a collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from attorneys in the same field. These HBS

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored by The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce 24 lawyers from the firm were honored in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© . This award is based on an evaluation process that includes a collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from attorneys in the same field. These HBS

Hall Booth Smith Attorneys Honored by The Best Lawyers in America©

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce 21 lawyers from the firm were honored in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© . This award is based on an evaluation process that includes a collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from attorneys in the same field. These HBS attorneys and

HBS Attorneys Recognized in 2017 Georgia Super Lawyers

In the 2017 edition of the Georgia Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) will once again be recognized for its outstanding legal work as seven of its attorneys are on the list of Super Lawyers: Phillip E. Friduss, John E. Hall, Jr., and Rush S. Smith, Jr. of the Atlanta office; James B. Durham and N. Daniel

HBS Attorneys Recognized in 2016 Georgia Super Lawyers

In the 2016 edition of the Georgia Super Lawyers magazine, the law firm of Hall Booth Smith (HBS) will once again be recognized for its outstanding legal work as nine of its attorneys are on the list of Super Lawyers: Alex H. Booth, Phillip E. Friduss, John E. Hall, Jr., and Rush S. Smith, Jr. of the Atlanta office; James B. Durham and N.

HBS Attorneys Honored by The Best Lawyers® in America

Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (HBS) is pleased to announce eleven lawyers from the firm were honored in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. This award is based on an evaluation process that includes a collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from attorneys in the same field. These HBS attorneys and

HBS Welcomes Attorneys Jim Durham and Audra Rizzi to the Brunswick office

Brunswick, GA – Hall Booth Smith, P.C. announced today that Jim Durham has joined the firm as a partner in the Brunswick office along with Audra Rizzi, who joins as Of Counsel. They practiced together previously at Durham & Rizzi. “We are very excited to welcome Jim and Audra to our firm,” said Alex Booth,