James W. Jennings, Jr.

James W. Jennings is a trial lawyer with over thirty years experience in civil litigation in both federal and state court. He concentrates his practice in commercial litigation, defending personal injury and products liability actions, toxic torts, and FELA. He also represents local governments in litigation. He has handled a wide range of cases for industrial, transportation, local government and commercial clients throughout Virginia and in neighboring states. He has served as president of The Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA is made up of selected trial lawyers from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico), president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, and president of the Virginia Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He received The Defense Research Institute (DRI) Exceptional Service Award in 1984, and was elected to the Virginia Law Foundation in 1997. He has served on the Board of Directors of DRI, chair of the Railroad Law Committee of DRI, chair of the Board of Editors of the Journal of Civil Litigation, and member of the Board of Editors of Defense Counsel Journal, James is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Virginia Business' "Legal Elite". A native of Temple, Texas, James received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Washington and Lee University. After finishing college in 1965, he served in the United States Navy and returned to the law school where he served as an editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review, was inducted into the Order of the Coif and was graduated in 1972, magna cum laude.

Professional Affiliations

• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, President, 2001-2002
• Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, President, 1988-1989
• American Board Trial Advocates, President Virginia Chapter, 1995-1996
• Defense Research Institute, Board of Directors, 2001-2003; Chairman, Railroad Law Committee, 1984-1987; Exceptional Performance Citation, 1989
• American Bar Association
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Virginia State Bar
• Virginia Bar Association, Chairman, Committee on Professional Responsibility, 1982-1985
• Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation
• Roanoke City Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2002-2004
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
• International Association of Defense Council
• Association International de Droit des Assurances
• Defense Council Journal, Board of Editors
• Municipal Liability Reporter Board of Editors, 1990-1993
• Law Council, Washington & Lee School of Law, 1995-1998
• Adjunct Professor, Washington & Lee School of Law, 1999
• Journal of Civil Litigation, Chairman, Board of Editors, 1990-1994
• America Inns of Court, Master of the Bench
• Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2005, 2006, 2007

Professional Activities and Honors

• Washington and Lee Annual Fund; Chairman 1985-1987
• Washington and Lee Alumni Association, Board of Directors, 1984-1988
• Washington and Lee Alumni Association; President, Roanoke Chapter, 1981-1983
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc., Board of Directors, 1981-1989
• Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 1989-1993
• Opera Roanoke, Board of Directors, 1988-1996; President, 1996-1998
• Art Museum of Western Virginia, Board of Directors, 1990-1996; Vice President, 1995-1996
• Funds of Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, Trustee
• North Cross School, Board of Trustees, 1999-2006
• Averett University, Board of Trustees, 2005- present
• Garth Newel Music Center, Board of Directors, 2006