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James J. Thomas II
About James
Biography
I have more than 35 years of experience in all types of dispute resolution, including trial court litigation, arbitration, and mediatiion and have always been rated by my peers in Martindale Hubbell with its very highest rating.
Please see my website at
A. MY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT I AM A TRULY DIFFERENT NEGOTIATOR/LITIGATOR: LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY A FIGHTER
Most top lawyers profess to be “different” from other lawyers so as not to be lost in the crowd. Ironically, these lawyers claim to be different in the same way. They all claim to have great academic credentials and work experience and to be totally dedicated to their clients. My unique experiences described below show that I have those qualities, but I am also truly different in terms of:
- Toughness,
- Experience,
- Confidence,
- Work ethic,
- Perseverance, and
- Knowing when to use finesse and when to use power.
Experience as a Lawyer
- In my last year of law school, I turned down job offers from many of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the country and chose instead to help found a new upstart firm in Atlanta named Long & Aldridge with eight other lawyers with similar academic credentials.
- I remained at Long & Aldridge, where I served as the Head of the Litigation Department and Chairman of the Ethics and Practice Standards Committee, for 30 years and helped the firm, now named McKenna, Long & Aldridge grow to over 500 lawyers in twelve cities in the US and Europe.
- During my 30 years at my original firm, I handled virtually every kind of business dispute imaginable, including employer-employee, noncompetition, nondisclosure, and trade secret, lender-borrower, corporate governance, business “divorce” (among partners, shareholders, etc.), intellectual property, construction, professional malpractice, contracts, business torts, and sports-related.
In addition to my litigation practice, I also developed a very strong practice in the sports world. I:
- Represented Undisputed Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield for twelve years, helped him earn more than $200,000,, and negotiated the largest contract for a single night performance in any field as of that time.
- I have extensive experience negotiating by myself with major corporations in the sports and entertainment industry and with such formidable forces as the legendary and notorious boxing promoter, Don King, HBO, Showtime, NBC, Madison Square Garden, MGM Grand, and others.
- Represented six other world champion boxers.
- Served as President of the Georgia Force, a team in the professional Arena Football League.
- Served as the first Commissioner of the Women’s Senior Golf Tour.
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- Represented as attorney for and advisor to the Professional Karate Association for more than 30 years.
- Co-owned, co-invented, and operated Big Stakes Match Play, a golf tournament for the best players in the world not on the PGA Tour, in which the winners won the largest purses in the history of golf, including PGA tournaments.
- After seeing many problems in professional boxing, I shocked my partners and withdrew from McKenna, Long to attempt to restructure the sport of boxing into leagues of teams throughout the world. When the economy crashed, I opted to go back to my roots and found a new small law firm named Ichter Thomas, LLC, rather than returning to McKenna Long.
- I have worked in law firms with from four to over 500 lawyers. I am the unusual lawyer with many years of big firm experience in a small firm with all the efficiencies and advantages that a small firm has.
Experience as a De Facto Client
- I have served as outside general counsel for approximately a dozen companies, in which, in addition to providing management advice, one of my most important functions was to manage and minimize legal services from many different lawyers and law firms while assuring successful outcomes.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Arbitration
25%
12 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 350-525 per hour
Contingency
10%-40%
Pro bono
10 %
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Georgia for 49 years
State: Georgia
Acquired: 1976
No misconduct found
Location
Ichter Thomas LLC
3340 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1530, Atlanta, GA, 30326-1084
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James J. Thomas II's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
1 Client Review
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review
Posted by Mark | May 13, 2014 | Litigation
Jim Thomas is an outstanding attorney.
I am a current client of Jim Thomas. I have been very impressed with Jim's knowledge of Georgia law regarding litigation, his familiarity with the local courts, and his tireless focus on putting together the best possible case on my behalf. He has demonstrated success by winning each of three verdict...
James J. Thomas II's Lawyer Endorsements
"Jim is a fierce advocate and a wise counselor. I wholeheartedly endorse him."
"Jim is a talented lawyer and an honest adversary. We handled a contentious matter for opposing parties, and while the fight was tense, Jim represented his client well while remaining a true professional. Highly recommend."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Jim Thomas for many years and have referred clients to him because he has excellent credentials, a strong track record in diverse business settings and is intense in his pursuit of his clients' interests."
"I endorse this lawyer."
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Experience
Honors
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2000
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1999
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1998
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1997
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1996
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1995
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1994
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1993
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1992
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1991
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1990
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1989
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1988
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1987
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1986
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1985
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1984
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1983
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1982
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1981
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1980
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1976
Weber Diploma for Outstanding Student in Graduating Class, The Law School
1976
Order of the Coif, W&M Law School
1976
Omicron Delta Kappa, W&M Law School
1976
Corpus Juris Secundum Award, W&M Law School
1976
Davis Y. Pachall Fellowship, Paschall Foundation
1975
Editor in Chief Law Review, W&M Law School
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Complex Business Litigation, Ichter Thomas, LLC
2006 - 2009
General Counsel and Commissioner, World Boxing League, Inc.
1976 - 2006
Commercial Litigation, Long & Aldridge
Associations
1977 - Present
US Court of Appeals for the 11th CircuitMember
1976 - Present
Atlanta Bar AssociationMember
1976 - Present
Atlanta Bar Association, Litigation SectionMember
1976 - Present
Georgia State Bar AssociationMember
1976 - Present
Georgia State Association, Litigation SectionMember
1976 - Present
Georgia State Bar Association, Dispute Resolution SectionMember
1976 - Present
US District Court for the Northern District of GeorgiaMember
1975 - 1976
William & Mary Law ReviewEditor in Chief
1974 - 1975
William and Mary Law ReviewEditor Board
Sample of Legal Cases
Commercial Lease Dispute
I obtained a TRO, and the landlord backed off.
Breach of Contract
Won on summary judgment
Slander Case
Motion to dismiss at trial granted
Education
1976
William & Mary Law School
JD - Juris Doctor
1973
College of William and Mary
Bachelor of Arts in Government Studies
Speaking Engagements
2005
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
2004
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
2003
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
2002
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
2001
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
2000
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1999
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1998
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1997
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1996
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1995
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1994
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1993
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1992
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1991
AnnualEthiics Seminar
Ethics
1990
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1989
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1988
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1987
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1986
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
1985
Annual Ethics Seminar
Ethics
Publications
2007
Martial Arts Professionals Magazine
The Ultimate Black Belt Negotiator: Atlanta, Georgia's Jim Thomas
2005
Sports Publishing, Inc.
The Holyfield Way: What I Learned About Courage, Perseverance, and the Bizarre World of Boxing
2001
Allentown Morning Call
Guiding Light for Women's Senior Tour
2000
Thomas Hauser
Boxing Leaders: JimThomas
1999
Boxing Digest
Boxing Digest Looks at Jim Thomas
1999
Allentown Morning Call
Valley Native Gives Heavyweight Representation
1998
Boxing Digest
The Making of Evander, Inc.
1997
Las Vegas Times Review
Thomas Securely in Holyfield's Corner
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers