Jason B. James

Jason James is a litigator, focusing primarily in the areas of construction and surety law, construction defect litigation, complex commercial litigation, and dispute resolution. 

Jason’s construction and surety law practice includes working with clients at every phase of the construction process. He has significant experience representing owners and developers, as well as design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers in the negotiation of contracts on the front end of a project through project close out. When disputes arise following project completion, he handles litigation matters related to construction defect and delay claims, wrongful termination claims, and liability issues.

Jason has successfully litigated complex commercial and business disputes for his clients involving misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair and deceptive trade practice cases involving multi-million-dollar claims. His trade secrets and unfair competition practice involves competing businesses and covenants not to compete, as well as claims against rogue employees.  

In his dispute resolution practice, Jason helps parties work together to resolve their disputes prior to trial, and often prior to suit being filed. Certified by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct Superior Court mediations since 2008, he has mediated close to a thousand cases in both state and federal court proceedings, and regularly serves as an arbitrator. Jason has been inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, an invitation-only professional association whose membership consists of highly regarded mediators and arbitrators.

Regularly recognized by his peers in Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite listing in both construction law and business litigation, Jason was the 2020 Legal Elite Overall Winner in Construction Law. He has also been named multiple times by North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine to the list of Top 25 attorneys in Charlotte and Top 100 attorneys in North Carolina. 

Jason firmly believes in the importance of giving back to both the legal community and the greater Charlotte community. He has a long history of service to both the Mecklenburg County Bar and North Carolina Bar Association. He is a past chair of the Mecklenburg County Bar Litigation Section as well as the Professionalism, Lawyer Life and Culture Committee. He is active with the North Carolina Bar Association’s Litigation Section Council and Construction Law Section, as well as the American Bar Association’s Construction Law and Dispute Resolution Sections.

Jason is a North Carolina native from High Point. His wife Laura grew up in Mississippi, and the two met in Charlotte. It is undisputed that his wife is the artistic one in the family and is best known as the creative genius behind Laura James Jewelry. Their daughter Lila is in elementary school and is already a skilled negotiator and advocate, and routinely lectures on successful negotiation strategies. At the end of 2012, Jason learned to swim, bought a bike (now several), and slowly ran into the sport of triathlon. In addition to spending time with his family, he has a passion for all things outdoors, most notably turkey hunting, and is also a Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale connoisseur.