Jim is the former managing partner of the firm's Pittsburgh office. He is involved in the defense of pharmaceutical and medical device products on behalf of the products' manufacturers. He has defended the Bjork-Shiley heart valve, breast implants, artificial hips and knees, endoscopic linear cutters, surgical staplers and tools, stents, fracture fixation devices, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the OrthoEvra patch, among others. Jim is also involved in the defense of chemical and fiber products including products that contain asbestos, talc, benzene and acrylamide. He presently serves as national coordinating counsel for a mineral miner and processor in litigation, which is active in numerous jurisdictions. He has an active NCAA practice in which he represents coaches in hearings before the Committee on Infractions, defending against allegations of NCAA bylaw violations and has been involved in the Committee on Infractions hearings involving numerous universities and colleges.

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

West Virginia

Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

Education

• Syracuse University (M.P.A., 1976)
• Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 1975)
• Syracuse University (B.S., 1972)

• Best Lawyers^® 
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Pittsburgh for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants (2012)
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Pittsburgh for Litigation - Banking and Finance (2015, 2017)
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Pittsburgh for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2018)
  • "Lawer of the Year" in Pittsburgh for Insurance Law (2020)
  • Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation, Class Actions and Product Liability Litigation
• Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
• Syracuse University Letter Winner of Distinction Award
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyers^® (2021)

• Allegheny County Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Easter Seals Western Pennsylvania
  • Chairman
  • Board of Directors 
• Edgar Allen Founders Society of Easter Seals
• Syracuse University Athletic Development Advisory Board, Board of Directors
• Syracuse University College of Law, Board of Advisors