Jim Sanders joined Neal & Harwell in 1978 and is one of the Firm’s most experienced Members. He serves on the Firm’s Executive Committee. Jim is among a select group of lawyers nationwide to whom clients, both corporations and individuals, turn in significant investigations and trials. He has tried cases all over the country, many of which lasted months. This experience in these types of cases is rare in the legal profession and usually involves leading a team of lawyers from other firms and in-house counsel.

Jim has been recognized in a number of “best lawyers” lists, but the most significant recognition, in his opinion, is being inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1997. The College’s Fellows are chosen by invitation only and Fellowship is limited to one percent of the total lawyer population of the state in which the lawyer practices. He has been a participant for the past few years in the Forum on Corporate Enforcement | Cambridge Forums.

Among Jim’s notable trials are The Twilight Zone trial (representing Director John Landis) and the Exxon Valdez trial in Alaska. In both, Jim served as co-counsel with the late James F. Neal. Others include two trials in Baltimore County, Maryland, representing ExxonMobil in a gasoline line leak that involved hundreds of plaintiffs. In addition to the normal media coverage, Jim’s role, examination of witnesses, and arguments in these cases are mentioned in the following books:

C. Cosslett, Lawyers at Work
D. Legedoff, Cleaning Up
R. LaBrecque, Special Effects
S. Coll, Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power