James B. Durham

James B. Durham is a Partner in the HBS Brunswick office and a respected Georgia trial Attorney with decades of experience in complex civil litigation. His practice includes commercial disputes, construction litigation, industrial accidents, products liability defense, professional negligence, medical malpractice defense, shareholder actions, and mineral resource matters.

Mr. James earned his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1980 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia in 1983. During law school, he held leadership roles in major student and honorary organizations and joined the State Bar of Georgia in 1983. His litigation career has included major commercial and industrial cases, including representation connected to the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel fire litigation. He has handled trade secret claims, contractual disputes, partnership and shareholder conflicts, covenants not to compete, tax litigation, and large industrial accident matters for corporate clients.

Mr. James also assists clients with OSHA investigations and hearings, helping businesses address regulatory concerns and manage litigation risk. His work in insurance defense includes personal injury defense, coverage issues, and first-party defense matters for numerous insurance companies over more than 30 years of legal practice. In medical malpractice defense, he has represented physicians and hospitals throughout South Georgia. His experience allows him to address high-stakes professional negligence claims with careful preparation, strategic analysis, and a practical understanding of the legal, financial, and reputational concerns facing healthcare providers and institutions.

James B. Durham is admitted to practice in all Georgia courts, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, multiple federal district courts, the Eleventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. These admissions support his work in trial and appellate matters across complex litigation forums. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a past President of the State Bar of Georgia. His recognitions include AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated status, Georgia Super Lawyer selections, and inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Secretary, Brunswick-Glynn County Bar Association (1986-1990) (1989) (1988) (1987)
• Member, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
• Member, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
• Member, American Bar Association, House of Delegates (2003)
• President, President-Elect, Treasurer, State Bar of Georgia (2002-2003) (2001-2002) (1999-2001)

Licensed State

• Georgia

Education

• University of Georgia
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Georgia
  Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude

Awards & Badges