James Q. Shirley

James Q. Shirley is a senior commercial litigator at Sheehan Phinney in Manchester, New Hampshire whose practice focuses on general commercial litigation, insurance disputes, and professional liability. Shirley represents clients in state and federal civil disputes involving contracts, insurance, professional liability, real estate, and other business issues. The practice includes commercial litigation, insurance-coverage disputes, professional-liability defense, contract litigation, real estate disputes, trials, and appeals. Shirley helps businesses, public bodies, organizations, and individuals manage complex disputes through trial, appeal, and strategic counseling.

Shirley earned a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law and entered New Hampshire practice in 1970. His legal education preceded a long litigation career involving state and federal courts, complex civil disputes, and appellate advocacy. This background supports careful legal analysis, clear communication, and practical judgment in matters involving general commercial litigation, insurance disputes, and professional liability.

Shirley has experience with trying and advising on professional-liability, breach-of-contract, insurance, real estate, and other commercial disputes and appearing in significant appellate matters. Shirley has also served as general counsel to his firm and has represented a wide range of private and public clients. Across these matters, the work requires careful preparation and attention to the legal, factual, and practical issues that affect the client’s position.

James Q. Shirley is recognized for a longstanding New Hampshire commercial-litigation practice. He has received continued recognition in general commercial litigation and has served the firm in a general-counsel role. The practice combines deep trial experience with practical analysis of complex business disputes. This approach helps clients understand available options, evaluate risk, and move important matters forward with informed legal guidance.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Sheehan Phinney
• Member, New Hampshire Bar Association
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Chairman, NH Bar Association CLE Committee
• Member, Supreme Court Minimum Continuing Legal Education Committee
• Member, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
• Member, Dartmouth Lawyers Association
• Member, NH Bar Association Ethics Committee
• Member, Supreme Court Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board
• Director Emeritus, Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Piscataquog Land Conservancy
• Member, International Society of Barristers
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Member, Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure
• Member, Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Licensed State

• New Hampshire
• California

Education

• University of San Francisco School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• San Francisco State University
  Master of Arts (MA)
• Dartmouth College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges