Partner, Atlanta
303 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 5300
Atlanta, GA 30308

TEL: 404.527.8406
FAX: 404.527.4198
EMAIL: jwashburn@mckennalong.com

PROFILE

James Washburn is a partner in the Atlanta office who has had experience in a wide array of commercial disputes. James has successfully represented companies ranging from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial start-ups in disputes involving intellectual property, software development, manufacturing and sales disputes, healthcare disputes, and other matters, both securing significant awards and defending claims through trial. James has also represented business interests in both negotiations and litigation with local governments regarding contract awards and contesting the constitutionality of regulations.

James has developed particular expertise in corporate governance matters in privately-held companies, representing both companies and shareholders in disputes over corporate governance issues and with respect to reverse stock splits. James has successfully tried cases to secure multiple awards for clients under Georgia's dissenter's rights laws arising out of these disputes.

James has also helped to develop the Firm's Campaign Finance and Election Law Practice. He has represented a number of state and federal campaigns, political action committees, and donors in their compliance with federal and state ethics and campaign finance laws. He has also represented candidates, office-holders, and contributors in a variety of proceedings before Georgia's State Ethics Commission, the Federal Elections Commission, and in courts. James has successfully defended candidates and office-holders in recall efforts and in election contests.

Before beginning work at MLA, James clerked for J. Dickson Phillips, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and for The Honorable G. Kendall Sharp, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Pro Bono

James focuses much of his current pro bono efforts on Hands On Networks, an organization that promotes volunteerism through affiliated organizations in most of the larger cities in the United States. James has provided counsel to Hands On Network on numerous corporate and operational issues.

In a case that received national attention, James was an active member of the Marcus Dixon team that on appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, secured the reversal of Marcus Dixon's conviction for aggravated child molestation in connection with a sexual encounter with a classmate.

In 2002, James successfully secured the release of a Georgia prisoner after a habeas corpus hearing contesting the constitutionality of the inmate's incarceration.

James has also handled numerous cases from the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation's Saturday Lawyer Program.