Jim Staley

Jim’s practice primary focuses on representing management and employers in litigation. Some of Jim’s more recent representative engagements include:

• Successful trial defense of an offshore oil and gas company in a lawsuit involving race and Seaman’s Protection Act claims. Jury returned full defense verdict after less than 1 hour of deliberation.
• Successful defense of a large automobile dealership company in an arbitration involving age and disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. The plaintiff sought more than a million dollars in damages.The arbitrator awarded the plaintiff zero and awarded the dealership some of its fees.
• Successful defense of a large construction equipment rental company in a state court lawsuit involving a claim for misappropriation of trade secrets.  The jury delivered a full defense verdict and the court denied the plaintiff’s request for permanent injunctive relief.
• Successful defense of a large automobile dealership company in an arbitration involving an age discrimination claim arising out of a termination. The arbitrator issued a full defense/no liability award for the dealership.
• Successful defense of a large retail company in a federal court lawsuit involving claims for assault, sexual harassment allegedly involving a former manager.  The jury delivered a full defense verdict.
• Successful defense of local company in an arbitration involving claims by a former employee for fraud and breach of contract.The arbitrator issued a full defense/no liability award for the client.
• Successful defense of disaster management company in a federal appeal involving claims for misappropriation of trade secrets and breach covenant not to compete.  The appeals court affirmed the trial court’s denial of the plaintiff’s request for a temporary injunction.

Education

• J.D., cum laude, , Baylor University School of Law, 1998
• B.B.A., , Management, cum laude, Texas A&M University, 1995

Admission to Practice

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Texas
• U. S. District Court, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas

• Texas Bar Association
• Houston Bar Association
• Texas Aggie Bar Association
• Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

• Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce – “Hiring and Firing: The Right Way and the Wrong Way” – Houston – December 2009

• Acritas Star (2018-present)
• Texas Super Lawyers (2014, 2015)
• Texas Rising Star, Texas Monthly magazine (2004-2013)
• Board Certified, Labor and Employment Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization