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Lawyer Profile

Image of V. James Dickson

V. James Dickson

Adams and Reese LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2009
  • Recognized in:
    Construction Law
    Litigation - Construction
  • Law School:
    Indiana University
  • Website:
    http://www.adamsandreese.com
  • Phone:
    (727) 502.8200
  • Location:
    150 Second Avenue North, Suite 1700
    St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Because of my construction and environmental law experience, I call myself a “dirt problem lawyer,” but first and foremost, I’m a business attorney. My team and I have to figure out the best economic resolution for our client, and usually that doesn’t mean litigating a dispute for two years. At times, however, we must draw a line in the sand and say, “We won’t cross it.” I tend to view myself by nature as a negotiator, mediator and problem solver—unless that line gets crossed. Then I’ll come after the opposing party with everything I’ve got.

Primary Practice: Construction

Jim Dickson represents owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in all aspects of construction law, including bidding, contract preparation and negotiation, surety bonds, claim resolution, ADA claims and litigation of construction defect claims and monetary disputes. Jim helps clients navigate a broad array of environmental issues, including those concerning hazardous substances, contaminated property, Brownfields, asbestos, RCRA, CERCLA, toxic torts, surface and waste water discharges, air emissions, notices of violations and consent decrees. In mediation, arbitration and litigation matters, he advises clients in land use, title, trade regulation, commercial litigation and general business negotiations.

With construction law experience working with issues that involve geotechnical engineering and the clean-up of contaminated building sites, Jim was an obvious choice to take on environmental matters and grow that practice when his firm first started handling Superfund litigation in the late 1980s. A long-time advocate of conservation and rational stewardship of the planet, he believes strongly that, for the sake of ourselves and our children and grandchildren, we need to preserve our natural resources by increasing density on existing developed infrastructure rather than building upon natural wild lands, and to counter the causes of rising sea levels.

Jim writes and speaks extensively on construction and environmental law issues. In addition, for 25 years he has taught a course in environmental hazards involving real property at Stetson University School of Law. He believes teaching makes him a better lawyer because law students often raise difficult questions, which requires him to stay on top of any and all new developments. He conveys to his students that a good attorney deciphers the key economic and psychological issues between parties in a dispute or negotiation, anticipates potential points of contention, and suggests options to avoid such problems.

In keeping with his commitment to community service and because he feels lawyers need to ensure that everyone has access to the legal system, regardless of background, Jim serves as pro bono president of his local Legal Aid Society.

 

  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

Because of my construction and environmental law experience, I call myself a “dirt problem lawyer,” but first and foremost, I’m a business attorney. My team and I have to figure out the best economic resolution for our client, and usually that doesn’t mean litigating a dispute for two years. At times, however, we must draw a line in the sand and say, “We won’t cross it.” I tend to view myself by nature as a negotiator, mediator and problem solver—unless that line gets crossed. Then I’ll come after the opposing party with everything I’ve got.

Primary Practice: Construction

Jim Dickson represents owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in all aspects of construction law, including bidding, contract preparation and negotiation, surety bonds, claim resolution, ADA claims and litigation of construction defect claims and monetary disputes. Jim helps clients navigate a broad array of environmental issues, including those concerning hazardous substances, contaminated property, Brownfields, asbestos, RCRA, CERCLA, toxic torts, surface and waste water discharges, air emissions, notices of violations and consent decrees. In mediation, arbitration and litigation matters, he advises clients in land use, title, trade regulation, commercial litigation and general business negotiations.

With construction law experience working with issues that involve geotechnical engineering and the clean-up of contaminated building sites, Jim was an obvious choice to take on environmental matters and grow that practice when his firm first started handling Superfund litigation in the late 1980s. A long-time advocate of conservation and rational stewardship of the planet, he believes strongly that, for the sake of ourselves and our children and grandchildren, we need to preserve our natural resources by increasing density on existing developed infrastructure rather than building upon natural wild lands, and to counter the causes of rising sea levels.

Jim writes and speaks extensively on construction and environmental law issues. In addition, for 25 years he has taught a course in environmental hazards involving real property at Stetson University School of Law. He believes teaching makes him a better lawyer because law students often raise difficult questions, which requires him to stay on top of any and all new developments. He conveys to his students that a good attorney deciphers the key economic and psychological issues between parties in a dispute or negotiation, anticipates potential points of contention, and suggests options to avoid such problems.

In keeping with his commitment to community service and because he feels lawyers need to ensure that everyone has access to the legal system, regardless of background, Jim serves as pro bono president of his local Legal Aid Society.

 

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar & Court Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Additional Information

Education:

  • Indiana University, J.D., graduated 1977
  • Indiana University, B.A., graduated 1972

Bar Admissions:

  • Florida, The Florida Bar
 

Court Admissions:

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Affiliations:

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) - Member
  • Community Law Program - President, Board Member
  • Florida Bar Association - Member
  • Leadership St. Petersburg Alumni Association - Member
  • Leadership Tampa Bay Alumni Association - Member
  • St. Petersburg Bar Association - Member
  • St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Inc. - Exec Committee, Board and General Counsel
  • Urban Land Institute - Member

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Construction Law
  • Litigation - Construction
 

Awards:

  • Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society Fellow
  • Leadership St. Petersburg - Alumni Association Leadership Award
  • National Association for Community Leadership - Distinguished Leadership Award
  • St. Petersburg Bar Association - Pro Bono Award
  • Florida Super Lawyers® - Construction and Environmental Law
  • AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Member of Year
  • Florida Bar Association - Presidents Pro Bono Service Award

Additional Information:

Stetson University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
Teach Environmental Hazards of Real Property
Florida Bar Board Certification

Construction Law

 

 

Lawyer Client Comments

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Image for Adams and Reese LLP View Firm Profile
Adams and Reese LLP
http://www.adamsandreese.com
 
Headquarters
Hancock Whitney Center, Suite 4500
701 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70139
(504) 581.3234
18 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

Alabama

Alabama

Birmingham, AL

Regions Harbert Plaza, Suite 3000

1901 Sixth Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

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(205) 250.5000

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RSA Battle House Tower, Suite 23200

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Mobile, AL 36602

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RSA Plaza Building, Suite 150

770 Washington Avenue

Montgomery, AL 36104

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(334) 593.5560

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Washington, DC

20 F Street, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20001

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Fort Lauderdale, FL

350 East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 1110

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

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(504) 585.0476

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Jacksonville, FL

TIAA Bank Plaza, Suite 601

501 Riverside Avenue

Jacksonville, FL 32202

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(904) 355.1700

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Sarasota, FL

1515 Ringling Boulevard, Suite 700

Sarasota, FL 34236

United States

(941) 316.7600

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St. Petersburg, FL

150 Second Avenue North, Suite 1700

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

United States

(727) 502.8200

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Bank of America Plaza, Suite 4000

101 East Kennedy Boulevard

Tampa, FL 33602

United States

(813) 402.2880

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Atlanta, GA

Monarch Tower, Suite 1600

3424 Peachtree Road, NE

Atlanta, GA 30326

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Baton Rouge, LA 70801

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Mississippi

Ridgeland, MS

300 Renaissance, Suite 800

1018 Highland Colony Parkway

Ridgeland, MS 39157

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South Carolina

Columbia, SC

1501 Main Street, Fifth Floor

Columbia, SC 29201

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(803) 254.4190

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Tennessee

Tennessee

Chattanooga, TN

412 Georgia Avenue, Suite 201

Chattanooga, TN 37403

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(423) 802.3058

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Memphis, TN

Crescent Center, Suite 700

6075 Poplar Avenue

Memphis, TN 38119

United States

(901) 525.3234

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Nashville, TN

Fifth Third Center, Suite 2700

424 Church Street

Nashville, TN 37219

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(615) 259.1450

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Texas

Texas

Houston, TX

LyondellBasell Tower, Suite 4400

1221 McKinney Street

Houston, TX 77010

United States

(713) 652.5151

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News & Media

Featured Publications

Cover for our Florida: Tampa publication

Lawyer Case History

Other Court Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida


 
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