About James
James is co-chair of the TimberlakeSmith Medical Malpractice Defense Team. James represents corporate healthcare systems, individual physicians, nurses, and dentists in both malpractice defense matters and administrative proceedings before professional licensing boards. James has represented healthcare providers and healthcare corporate institutions in over 250 medical malpractice cases. James has tried over 50 medical malpractices cases before juries in both State and Federal court. James understands the unique issues facing healthcare providers today and works closely with his clients to provide them effective representation as well as the assurance they need when facing a stressful and burdensome malpractice claim.
James received his Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 2001 and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 2001. James joined TimberlakeSmith in 2001 as an associate attorney.
James became a firm partner in 2005. James has been named a Best Lawyer in America-Medical Malpractice since 2013. James served on the firm’s Executive Committee from 2017-2025.
James enjoys scuba diving and is certified through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) as a Dive Master and Master Scuba Diver—a qualification that less than two percent of certified divers obtain, requires multiple specialty dive certifications, and accrual of over 50 dives. James has 300 plus recorded dives from dive sites throughout the Caribbean.
James is a proud father of four and has a 4-year-old Chocolate Labrador named Norman.
Experience
Timberlake Smith
Staunton, Virginia
Associate Attorney, 2001-2004
Firm Partner, 2005-
Member of the Executive Committee, 2017-2025
Zimmerman, Shuffield, Kiser & Sutcliffe
Orlando, Florida
Summer Law Clerk, 2000
Emory University School of Law,
Atlanta, Georgia
Research Assistant for Legal Writing, Research and Advocacy Program (LWRAP), Summer 1999
Hoffmann-La Roche
University of Virginia Health Sciences Center
Charlottesville, Virginia
Medical Center Pharmaceutical Representative and Special Project Director, 1995-1998
Hoffmann-La Roche
Charlottesville, Virginia
Professional Products Representative, 1992-1994
Lewis Gale Hospital
Salem, Virginia
Endoscopy Department, 1988-1992