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Lawyer Profile

Image of James J. Leonard

James J. Leonard

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2015
  • Recognized in:
    Insurance Law
  • Website:
    http://www.btlaw.com
  • Location:
    3475 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 1700
    Atlanta, GA 30305-3327

Jim Leonard focuses his practice in the areas of insurance coverage advice and litigation on behalf of policyholders. With a dedication to maximizing client coverage and recovery while minimizing expense, Jim is committed to ensuring each client he serves receives the full benefit of their insurance investment.

A trusted business adviser, formidable litigator and veteran insurance professional, Jim focuses on developing dispute resolution strategies that put his clients in a position to prevail when critical coverage is denied. Jim has assisted policyholders in recovering insurance proceeds in a wide variety of industries and professions. His experience includes airlines, auto parts, banking, technology, religious and nonprofit organizations, communications, construction, consumer products, credit management, hospitals, infrastructure, nursing home and long-term care facilities, paper and other forest products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, physicians, property management, universities, and many others.

Jim also works with clients on their environmental insurance recovery efforts, with a particular emphasis on the recovery of insurance proceeds for environmental hazards such as pollution and asbestos. He has also assisted clients in addressing sophisticated insurance and indemnity issues in the course of mergers and acquisitions, and has helped with the formation and management of captive insurance companies. Moreover, Jim provides legal counsel to healthcare and life and health insurer clients on significant matters of law, including stranger-owned life insurance, ERISA, state regulatory and licensure issues, and general litigation.

Prior to private practice, Jim served as vice president, claims and general counsel for MAG Mutual Insurance Company in Atlanta, which is Georgia’s largest professional liability insurer. Having worked for many years as counsel for an insurance company, Jim knows the dynamics of the insurance business from the inside out, giving his clients today an advantage in discovery, depositions, settlement negotiation and at trial. Jim understands how insurance companies operate and what inherently drives their agenda. As a result, he is able to anticipate their next steps and apply the right strategy to counter that position.

After decades representing policyholders and working in-house for insurance companies, Jim is well-versed in the financial and even emotional impact of a coverage dispute. Level-headed, amiable and a dedicated professional, Jim is appreciated for defending policyholders faced with dire consequences in the event their insurance company fails them. He has resolved complex litigation involving practically every type of coverage and ranging in value from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. Regardless of the size or difficulty of the matter, Jim seeks to understand his clients’ position and provide practical, considerate, effectual and aggressive advocacy that results in the financial recovery his clients deserve.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Jim was a partner in the insurance recovery group at a large Atlanta-based law firm. He is a frequent speaker on insurance-related subjects around the country. 

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Jim Leonard focuses his practice in the areas of insurance coverage advice and litigation on behalf of policyholders. With a dedication to maximizing client coverage and recovery while minimizing expense, Jim is committed to ensuring each client he serves receives the full benefit of their insurance investment.

A trusted business adviser, formidable litigator and veteran insurance professional, Jim focuses on developing dispute resolution strategies that put his clients in a position to prevail when critical coverage is denied. Jim has assisted policyholders in recovering insurance proceeds in a wide variety of industries and professions. His experience includes airlines, auto parts, banking, technology, religious and nonprofit organizations, communications, construction, consumer products, credit management, hospitals, infrastructure, nursing home and long-term care facilities, paper and other forest products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, physicians, property management, universities, and many others.

Jim also works with clients on their environmental insurance recovery efforts, with a particular emphasis on the recovery of insurance proceeds for environmental hazards such as pollution and asbestos. He has also assisted clients in addressing sophisticated insurance and indemnity issues in the course of mergers and acquisitions, and has helped with the formation and management of captive insurance companies. Moreover, Jim provides legal counsel to healthcare and life and health insurer clients on significant matters of law, including stranger-owned life insurance, ERISA, state regulatory and licensure issues, and general litigation.

Prior to private practice, Jim served as vice president, claims and general counsel for MAG Mutual Insurance Company in Atlanta, which is Georgia’s largest professional liability insurer. Having worked for many years as counsel for an insurance company, Jim knows the dynamics of the insurance business from the inside out, giving his clients today an advantage in discovery, depositions, settlement negotiation and at trial. Jim understands how insurance companies operate and what inherently drives their agenda. As a result, he is able to anticipate their next steps and apply the right strategy to counter that position.

After decades representing policyholders and working in-house for insurance companies, Jim is well-versed in the financial and even emotional impact of a coverage dispute. Level-headed, amiable and a dedicated professional, Jim is appreciated for defending policyholders faced with dire consequences in the event their insurance company fails them. He has resolved complex litigation involving practically every type of coverage and ranging in value from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. Regardless of the size or difficulty of the matter, Jim seeks to understand his clients’ position and provide practical, considerate, effectual and aggressive advocacy that results in the financial recovery his clients deserve.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Jim was a partner in the insurance recovery group at a large Atlanta-based law firm. He is a frequent speaker on insurance-related subjects around the country. 

  • Education
  • Bar & Court Admissions
  • Award List
  • Additional Information

Education:

  • Southern Methodist University , J.D., graduated 1983
  • Southern Methodist University, B.A., graduated 1980

Bar Admissions:

  • Georgia, State Bar of Georgia
  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
 

Court Admissions:

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • Georgia Court of Appeals

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Insurance Law
 

Awards:

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2015-2019
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent

Special Focus:

  • COVID-19
 

Additional Information:

Professional and Community Involvement
Chair, American Bar Association Construction Litigation Insurance Subcommittee
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Barnes & Thornburg LLP View Firm Profile
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
http://www.btlaw.com
 
19 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

California

California

Los Angeles, CA

2029 Century Park East, Suite 300

Los Angeles, CA 90067

United States

(310) 284.3880

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San Diego, CA

655 West Broadway, Suite 1300

San Diego, CA 92101

United States

(619) 321.5000

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Delaware

Delaware

Wilmington, DE

1000 North West Street, Suite 1500

Wilmington, DE 19801-1054

United States

(302) 300.3434

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District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Washington, DC

1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20006-4623

United States

(202) 289.1313

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Georgia

Georgia

Atlanta, GA

3475 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 1700

Atlanta, GA 30305-3327

United States

(404) 846.1693

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Illinois

Illinois

Chicago, IL

One North Wacker Drive, Suite 4400

Chicago, IL 60606-2833

United States

(312) 357.1313

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Indiana

Indiana

Elkhart, IN

52700 Independence Court, Suite 150

Elkhart, IN 46514-8155

United States

(574) 293.0681

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Fort Wayne, IN

888 South Harrison Street, Suite 600

Fort Wayne, IN 46802

United States

(260) 423.9440

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Indianapolis, IN

11 South Meridian Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-3535

United States

(317) 236.1313

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South Bend, IN

First Source Bank Center, Suite 700

100 North Michigan Street

South Bend, IN 46601-1632

United States

(574) 233.1171

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Michigan

Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive

Suite A-3300

P.O. Box 511

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

United States

(734) 489.8001

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Grand Rapids, MI

171 Monroe Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2694

United States

(616) 742.3930

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Southfield, MI

3000 Town Center, Suite 2440

Southfield, MI 48075

United States

(947) 215.1310

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Minnesota

Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

225 South Sixth Street, Suite 2800

Minneapolis, MN 55402-4662

United States

(612) 333.2111

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New York

New York

New York, NY

445 Park Avenue, Suite 700

New York, NY 10022

United States

(646) 746.2000

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North Carolina

North Carolina

Raleigh, NC

4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1010

Raleigh, NC 27609

United States

(919) 536.6200

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Ohio

Ohio

Columbus, OH

41 South High Street, Suite 3300

Columbus, OH 43215-6104

United States

(614) 628.0096

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Texas

Texas

Dallas, TX

2121 North Pearl Street, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

United States

(214) 258.4200

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Utah

Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

299 South Main Street, Suite 1825

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

United States

(801) 817.9810

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