James Nelson Email & Phone Number

James represents businesses in “bet the company” cases. According to a law partner, “clients want James on the field when the game is on the line.” Like a seasoned quarterback, James focuses narrowly on where the goal line really is. James calls plays that are carefully designed to score quickly and efficiently, mindfully respecting his clients’ budget and goals. James uses his years of experience in court to call the right plays at the right time.James joined Betts, Patterson in 1980. Since then he has counseled hundreds of clients in a diverse array of complex business disputes including trade secrets, securities, estates, and consumer class action cases. He has represented manufacturers, distributors, banks, general contractors, developers, insurance brokers, attorneys, architects, engineers, and technology companies.James is a member of the Design Professionals Industry Group, a multi-disciplinary team of firm attorneys who help design industry clients achieve their goals, mitigate risk, and maximize opportunities throughout their business life cycles.In recent years, James has also developed a substantial mid-market transactional practice that includes business planning, estate planning, and commercial real estate. James chairs the firm’s Business Practice Group. He works with clients at every stage of the business life cycle, offering clients advice from “cradle to grave.” James is admitted to practice in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. He is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” each from 2003-2022. James served as the firm’s managing partner for 15 years. James is the firm’s representative at LAWorld, a network of 57 mid-sized law firms covering most of the major commercial centers around the world, with more than 1350 lawyers in 100 cities. As a member of LaWorld, he offers clients access to high quality legal counsel across the U.S. and around the globe. James has deep relationships with other member firms to support clients on transactional matters or in litigation, no matter where they do business. With access to highly-respected, independent legal expertise across most of the major commercial centers around the world – his clients always have the right attorneys in the right jurisdictions to help them navigate to the best outcomes! James is a frequent writer and speaker in the legal community. His recent topics include developments in antitrust law that impact intellectual property licensing transactions and law firm organizational health.

Listed skills include Commercial Litigation, Litigation, Trials, Corporate Law, and 19 others.