James Jennings is a trial lawyer with more than 50 years of experience in federal and state courts.
Get To Know James
James's practice focuses on commercial litigation, defending personal injury claims, product liability actions, toxic torts, and the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
James handles a wide range of cases for industrial, transportation, local government, and commercial clients throughout Virginia and in neighboring states. He is a past president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, the Virginia chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, which is composed of select trial lawyers from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
The Virginia Association of Defense Lawyers honored James with the 2014 Excellence in Civil Litigation Award. His previous awards include the Defense Research Institute’s Exceptional Service Award and being elected to the Virginia Law Foundation. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America, Virginia Super Lawyers, Chambers USA Leading Lawyer, and as a "Legal Elite" in Virginia Business magazine. James also holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review rating. In 2015, James received the Leaders in their Field distinction from Chambers USA. He is a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation.
The Texas native received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University in 1965 and then entered the U.S. Navy. After his Naval service, he returned to the law school, where he served as an editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review, was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and graduated magna cum laude. He has been an adjunct professor at the Washington and Lee School of Law.
James served on Averett University’s Board of Trustees and has served in the community on the boards of directors of Downtown Roanoke Inc., Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, and others.
James is an avid fly fisher and tennis player. He served as President of Opera Roanoke and has served on the boards of Garth Newel Music Center and what is now the Taubman Museum. He and his wife enjoy hiking, canoeing and gardening. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
Credentials
Recognition
Education
Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Washington and Lee University, B.A.
Admissions
Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
U.S. Supreme Court
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
- American Board Trial Advocates, President, Virginia Chapter (1995‑96)
- America Inns of Court, Master of the Bench
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, President (2001‑02)
- Defense Council Journal, Board of Editors (1986‑88)
- Defense Research Institute, Board of Directors (2001‑03), Chairman, Railroad Law Committee (1984‑87)
- Federal Bar Association
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Journal of Civil Litigation, Chairman, Board of Editors (1990‑94)
- Municipal Liability Reporter, Board of Editors (1990‑93)
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
- Roanoke City Bar Association, Board of Directors (2002‑04)
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, President (1988‑89)
- Virginia Bar Association, Chairman, Committee on Professional Responsibility (1982‑85)
- Virginia Law Foundation, Fellow
- Washington and Lee School of Law, Law Council (1995‑98)
Other Publications & Media
with Erin B. Ashwell, "English Common Law Grants under Virginia Law: Rivers, Tides and the Taking Clause," Sea Grant Law and Policy Journal (2013).
Matter results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future matter. Some material on this site may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.
