James B. Durham

James B. Durham is a Partner in the HBS Brunswick office. He is a past President of the State Bar of Georgia and a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Throughout his career, Jim has been involved in complex civil litigation including commercial litigation, construction litigation, industrial accidents, products liability defense, professional negligence, medical malpractice defense, shareholder derivative actions, and mining law and mineral resource litigation.

He was in trial for several months in the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel fire case representing International Elevators, a division of Otis Elevators. He is involved extensively in commercial litigation, including trade secret litigation, contractual dispute litigation, partnership/shareholder disputes, covenants not to compete, shareholder derivative actions, tax litigation, and large industrial accidents for corporate clients. He assists his clients with OSHA investigations and hearings.

Jim has been involved in medical malpractice defense work representing physicians and hospitals throughout South Georgia. During his 30 plus-year career, he has represented numerous insurance companies in matters involving personal injury defense, coverage issues, and first party defense.

Jim graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in 1980. Jim received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia in 1983. While at the University of Georgia, Jim was President of the Student Union, President of Gridiron, President of Sphinx Honorary Society, and President of Blue Key Honorary Society. He has been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since his graduation in 1983.

He is admitted to practice in all courts in Georgia, including the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court. Jim is further admitted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States

Jim has been a AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated with Martindale-Hubbell for over twenty years. He has been selected as a Georgia Super Lawyer every year beginning in 2005 and has been consistently selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America.

Experience

Business Litigation

Throughout his legal career, Jim has been involved in a variety of complex civil litigation cases, including products liability defense and both trucking industry and mineral resource litigation. He represented International Elevators, a division of Otis Elevators, in a major case related to a hotel fire.

Insurance Coverage

During his more than 30 years of practicing law, Jim has represented numerous insurance companies in matters involving personal injury defense, coverage issues, and first-party defense.

Medical Malpractice

Jim frequently handles medical malpractice defense work, representing physicians and hospitals throughout South Georgia.

Recognition

•The Best Lawyers in America , Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2006-2026
•Georgia Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2008-2025
•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

In the Press

HBS Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Georgia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Lists

February 16, 2026

HBS is excited to announce that nine attorneys have been recognized on the 2026 Georgia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars list.