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James T. McDermott
Partner
Portland, Oregon 97204
t 503.944.6025
f 503.295.1058
vcard“We are aggressive and creative litigators who can take control of a case from the beginning, or in midstream, find its economic essentials and drive it to a successful conclusion for the client.”
Jim McDermott is the Chair of Ball Janik LLP’s Litigation and Insurance Recovery practice groups. He is a commercial business litigator and trial lawyer who represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex cases. He has tried scores of cases and argued appeals in federal and state courts on a broad range of issues for nationally known companies, small businesses and individuals. Mr. McDermott has been recognized as an industry leader by Chambers USA with peers highlighting his “forceful stance and impressive technical skills.” They have also called him a “very impressive lawyer” with an “extremely responsive, client-focused litigation management approach” who provides “smart advice that is always on the money.” Mr. McDermott has received the AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale–Hubbell®. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Construction – Litigation, and has been named by his peers as an Oregon Super Lawyer.
“We are aggressive and creative litigators who can take control of a case from the beginning, or in midstream, find its economic essentials and drive it to a successful conclusion for the client.”
Jim McDermott is the Chair of Ball Janik LLP’s Litigation and Insurance Recovery practice groups. He is a commercial business litigator and trial lawyer who represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex cases. He has tried scores of cases and argued appeals in federal and state courts on a broad range of issues for nationally known companies, small businesses and individuals. Mr. McDermott has been recognized as an industry leader by Chambers USA with peers highlighting his “forceful stance and impressive technical skills.” They have also called him a “very impressive lawyer” with an “extremely responsive, client-focused litigation management approach” who provides “smart advice that is always on the money.” Mr. McDermott has received the AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale–Hubbell®. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Construction – Litigation, and has been named by his peers as an Oregon Super Lawyer.
Mr. McDermott has successfully handled cases involving a wide array of large-dollar commercial business disputes, with particular emphasis on construction, professional liability, securities, regulatory, real estate, and insurance recovery. He has successfully resolved claims and lawsuits in a wide range of insurance areas, recovering millions of dollars for clients from domestic and foreign insurers. His insurance recovery practice ranges from large-scale litigation on behalf of corporate policyholders under complex occurrence-based and claims-made coverages, to individual claims under property, disability, health, and other personal policies. Mr. McDermott has been retained to represent brokers and agents and reinsurance intermediaries – including some of the largest firms in the world – when they become enmeshed in coverage disputes and litigation.
After earning his law degree Mr. McDermott served for one year as a judicial law clerk to a federal district court judge. He then joined Covington & Burling, the largest law firm in Washington, D.C., where he practiced for five years. He has chaired Ball Janik’s litigation practice since 1998.
Throughout his career, Mr. McDermott has authored articles on environmental and business insurance coverage matters, construction issues, lectured on a wide range of legal and business issues, and taught trial practice courses. He has been appointed as an arbitrator in several cases and has served as an expert witness in insurance coverage cases, construction cases, and attorneys’ fee disputes. Mr. McDermott has also served on the Governor of Oregon’s Judicial Screening Committee.
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., 1985
University of Virginia Law School
Member, Virginia Law Review
B.S., summa cum laude, Accounting, Law and Public Policy, 1982
Syracuse University
Admissions
District of Columbia
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. Supreme Court
Honors
AV® Preeminent™ Rating
Martindale–Hubbell®, American Registry
Chambers USA 2009 – 2012 Industry Leader Litigation/Commercial
Named by peers as an Oregon Super Lawyer in Business Litigation, 2006 – 2012
Best Lawyers in America, 2013
News
Ball Janik LLP Attorneys Named 2012 Super Lawyers
09/18/2012Ball Janik LLP Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers 2013
08/30/2012Ball Janik LLP Top Ranked Firm by Chambers USA 2012
06/08/2012Seven Attorneys Named to The Best Lawyers in America 2012
09/13/2011Ball Janik LLP Top Ranked Firm by Chambers USA 2011
06/13/2011Ball Janik LLP Attorneys Named 2010 Super Lawyers
11/17/2010
Events
Top 10 Most Questionable Decisions in Oregon Construction Insurance
04/07/2011
Portland, OR
Most Important Coverage Decisions
