Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024 
James (Jim) Davis is a trial lawyer who helps businesses navigate complex disputes with practical, strategic guidance focused on efficient and cost-effective resolution. With more than 35 years of courtroom experience, Jim has handled significant matters in federal, state, and appellate courts throughout the United States, as well as in arbitration proceedings.
Jim’s practice spans a broad range of complex commercial disputes, including commercial and financial transactions litigation, intellectual property matters, patent infringement disputes, business torts, and conflicts among partners, owners, and closely held businesses. He also has substantial experience in technology-related litigation, including trade secret theft, restrictive covenant, and non-competition disputes.
In addition to his litigation practice, Jim brings a strong business perspective to client matters. He holds a degree in accounting and previously served as the firm’s chief operating officer. He currently serves as the firm’s chief legal officer and general counsel. Jim also advises early-stage companies at critical points in their growth, including companies seeking investment capital to support expansion.
Representative Matters
Jim successfully defended a telecommunications equipment manufacturer against an employee’s wrongful termination claim in Denton County, Texas. Following trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the client.
He successfully represented the chief executive officer of a publicly traded company in Austin, Texas, in a securities fraud case brought by an investor. Although the jury initially awarded the investor $2.5 million, Jim’s client later obtained a judgment notwithstanding the verdict from the 98th Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas, resulting in no recovery for the investor.
Jim defended the inventor of a highly popular toy against a multi-million-dollar trade secret claim filed by the assignee of a competing inventor’s patent rights in the 219th District Court of Collin County, Texas. After securing summary judgment for the client on all of the plaintiff’s claims, the client also prevailed at trial and obtained a judgment for $194,970 in trial-level attorney’s fees.
He represented a patent owner in multiple infringement claims involving electronic cables and connectors with multi-positional swivel adapters. The claims were brought against major distributors and manufacturers of electronic equipment. Following preliminary litigation and claim construction proceedings, the matters were resolved through settlements that produced cash recoveries for the client.
Jim pursued copyright infringement claims against an NFL franchise after the unauthorized use of a photographer’s iconic image of football star Emmitt Smith. The matter resulted in a $275,000 settlement. When the franchise later used the image again without permission, Jim pursued an additional lawsuit that resulted in a confidential settlement.
He successfully defended a Caribbean asphalt trader in an international arbitration involving a buyer’s claim for more than $3 million in damages arising from an alleged breach of a long-term supply contract. The final arbitration award, issued in December 2020, limited the buyer’s net recovery to $47,819.83, exclusive of costs. Following additional litigation and a motion to modify the award, the parties reached a compromise settlement.
Jim also defended a foreign manufacturer and seller of wireless communications equipment in an international arbitration involving claims by a competitor for trade secret theft, breach of a non-disclosure agreement, Civil RICO violations, alleged Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, and related claims connected to a communications infrastructure project in Africa. The claimant sought more than $1 billion in damages. After several years of arbitration and two separate multi-week final hearings, the arbitrator issued a final award in February 2017 rejecting all of the claimant’s claims.
