Experience

• Served as Lead Trial Counsel for the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) owners in property tax litigation involving its value.
• Defense of a Big Four accounting firm through jury trial against allegations of professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duties. The jury rejected all of plaintiff’s claims.
• Defense of four major oil companies through trial and in regulatory appeals in a real property dispute involving an oil drilling and production site.
• Defense of Alaska’s largest electric utility against multiple breach of contract claims. All claims were dismissed by the superior court, with all dismissals affirmed by the Alaska Supreme Court.
• Defense of a major pipeline company in a multimillion-dollar breach of contract and promissory estoppel dispute. All claims were dismissed by the superior court, with all dismissals affirmed by the Alaska Supreme Court.
• Defense of an insurer in state and federal court against a class action challenging the insurer’s claims handling practices. The suit was resolved without payment to the class.
• Defense of an oilfield services supply company in a $50 million products liability action concerning the destruction of an oil rig. All claims against client were dismissed.
• Defense of a statewide telephone utility against claims for over $30 million based on the cost of cleaning allegedly contaminated sites.
• Defense of an oil industry manager against federal environmental criminal charges, all of which were abandoned pre-indictment.
• Defense of a major Alaska municipality against qui tam (False Claims Act) claims, all of which were dismissed.
• Defense of a national pharmacological publisher against qui tam claims, all of which were dismissed.
• Defense of an Alaska state senator against charges brought by the Alaska Public Offices Commission that he violated financial reporting rules. The trial court dismissed all charges, with the dismissal affirmed on appeal by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

• Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, 2002–2005
• Commissioner, selected by the Federal Court for the District of Alaska, Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission, 2004–2013
• Member, Constitutionally created Alaska Judicial Council, 2014–2020. Reviewed sitting state judges for retention and screened judicial applicants for open positions.
• Named by Best Lawyers^® as Anchorage’s 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in three areas: Litigation—Environmental, Litigation—Real Estate, and Professional Malpractice Law—Defendants. In the past, Best Lawyers^® has selected Jim as Bet-the-Company Litigation “Lawyer of the Year,” Anchorage, 2022; Litigation—Environmental “Lawyer of the Year,” Anchorage, 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2020; Litigation—Mergers and Acquisitions “Lawyer of the Year,” Anchorage, 2017 and 2019; and Litigation—Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year,” Anchorage, 2015
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation – Real Estate, Natural Resources Law, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants), 2012–2023
• Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Alaska) by Chambers USA (currently: Litigation: General Commercial), 2005–2022
• Selected as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, 2007, 2011, 2015–2023
• Selected as a “Top 10: Alaska Super Lawyer,” 2011–2022, by Alaska Super Lawyers^® and listed for Business Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Energy & Natural Resources, 2007–2022
• AV Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell^®, 1999–present
• Fellow, American Bar Association Foundation
• Co-Chair, Alaska Legal Services Fundraising Campaign, 2000–2001, 2005–present
• Received Jay Rabinowitz Public Service Award from the Alaska Bar Foundation, 2016
• Selected as Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year, together with wife, by the Alaska Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, 2004

Civic Activities

Current

• Member Board of Directors, Alaskans for Fair Courts, 2022–present
• Member Board of Directors, Anchorage Parks Foundation, 2021–present

Former

• Co-Chair, Endowment Campaign, Alaska Community Foundation, 2015–2020
• Member (Secretary, 2008–2009; Vice Chair, 2010–2012), Board of Directors, Alaska Public Telecommunications, Inc., 2004–2013
• Member, Board of Directors, Anchorage Museum Foundation, 2012–2015
• Member (President Elect, President, and Past President, 2004–2010; Chair, Endowment Campaign, 2008–2010), Board of Directors, Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, 2003–2011
• Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Anchorage Youth Court, 1987–1988
• Member (President, 2003–2004), Board of Directors, Anchorage Youth Court, 2001–2005
• Member (Vice President, 2005–2007), Board of Directors, Disability Law Center, 2004–2007
• Member (Secretary, 2010–2011; Chair, 2011–2012; Vice Chair, 2012–2017), Board of Trustees, The Nature Conservancy (Alaska), 2009–2017
• Member, Board of Directors, University of Washington School of Law Alumni Association, 2010–2019

Insights & Presentations

• January 19, 2021—Panelist, Litigation Effects of Business Lawyering
• December 16, 2020—Presenter, Corporate Governance: Recent Developments in Alaska Law
• March 13, 2019—Presenter, Board Member and Shareholder Access to Corporate Records
• October 12, 2018—Panelist, How are Law Firms Responding to Demands?
• February 9, 2018—Panelist, What In-House Counsel Want You to Know
• September 6, 2016—Panelist, From The Bar to the Bench; Increasing Diversity in Alaska’s Judiciary
• September 27, 2014—Facilitator, Off the Record with the Alaska Supreme Court
• August 3, 2012—Tribal Law Alert: All Indian Tribes Can Lease Tribal Land Without BIA Approval
• April 27, 2011—Litigation Law Alert: Alaska Supreme Court Clarifies the Business Judgment Rule for Board Members

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