Admiralty and Maritime Law Commercial Litigation Litigation - Insurance Railroad Law
James L. "Jim" Chapman IV
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Jim is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include admiralty, business, cybersecurity, data privacy, railroad/transit, and unmanned systems. Jim has tried over 100 cases to jury verdicts for clients involving a broad range of legal disputes.
Jim advises governing boards and senior leadership regarding risks and resolution strategies in high-profile cases. His service as general counsel to companies, and as a director and officer of several non-profit organizations, helps clients resolve difficult challenges and plan strategically.
From 2013 - 2017, Jim served on the governing board of Virginia Tech, and was chair (Rector) of the board in 2016 - 2017. Virginia Tech is a leading research university with an annual budget of $1.5 billion, serving over 30,000 students. The University’s motto is Ut Prosim, Latin for “That I May Serve,” which is Jim’s passion for both his alma mater and his clients.
Overview
- Washington and Lee University, J.D., graduated 1982
- Virginia, Virginia State Bar
- North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
- Virginia Bar Association - Member
- American Bar Association - Member
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel - Member
- Defense Research Institute - Member
- Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International - Member
- Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute - Chairman, 1997
- I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court - President, 2010-2011
- Maritime Law Association of the United States - Proctor
- Housing Authority Defense Attorneys - Member
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel - Member
- National Association of Subrogation Professionals - Member
- Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association - Member
- Virginia Law Foundation - Fellow, 2016
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- United States District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
- Virginia, Virginia State Bar
- North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
- Virginia Bar Association - Member
- American Bar Association - Member
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel - Member
- Defense Research Institute - Member
- Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International - Member
- Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute - Chairman, 1997
- I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court - President, 2010-2011
- Maritime Law Association of the United States - Proctor
- Housing Authority Defense Attorneys - Member
- National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel - Member
- National Association of Subrogation Professionals - Member
- Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association - Member
- Virginia Law Foundation - Fellow, 2016
- Washington and Lee University, J.D., graduated 1982
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- United States District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Admiralty and Maritime Law, Norfolk (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Admiralty and Maritime Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Insurance
- Railroad Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Arbitration
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Corporate Governance Law
- Insurance Law
- Litigation - Banking and Finance
- Litigation - Environmental
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Municipal
- Mediation
- Municipal Law
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Privacy and Data Security Law
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Transportation Law
Special Focus:
- COVID-19
Awards:
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected as a Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell, 2013
- Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers, Transportation/Maritime, 2006-2018
- Listed in Virginia's Legal Elite, Civil Litigation, Virginia Business Magazine, 2011, 2014
- Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission Award, 2003
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