James Jeffrey Burns

James Jeffrey Burns is a Partner at Johnson, Newlon & DeCort, P.A. whose practice focuses on business and commercial litigation. He handles contract disputes, trade secrets, noncompete and other restrictive covenant agreements, derivative shareholder litigation, Telephone Consumer Protection Act matters, consumer law claims, commercial mortgages and leases, general business disputes, and other civil matters. He regularly represents clients in federal, bankruptcy, and state courts across a range of contested commercial proceedings.

Mr. Burns earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Florida State University in 2014 and his B.A. in Criminology from the University of Florida in 2011. In law school, he served as Executive Article Editor of the Law Review and received the Outstanding Editor of the Year award. His academic record and legal training provided a strong foundation for a practice centered on commercial disputes and courtroom advocacy.

Mr. Burns served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable James D. Whittemore of the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Earlier, he worked for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for two years. He was also a Certified Legal Intern at the Tallahassee State Attorney’s Office, where he gained valuable jury trial experience before entering a private practice focused on civil and commercial litigation.

James Jeffrey Burns is admitted to The Florida Bar, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the US District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and the US Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Tampa Connection and remains active in the Federal Bar Association, complementing his litigation practice with professional and community involvement throughout Florida today.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Johnson, Newlon & DeCort, P.A.
• Member, The Florida Bar
• Secretary & Treasurer, Federal Bar Association, Federal Litigation Section

Licensed State

• Florida

Education

• Florida State University
  Juris Doctor (JD) Magna Cum Laude
• University of Florida
  BA in Criminology

Awards & Badges