Jim obtained his undergraduate degree in 1969 from Harvard University, majoring in physics (with honors).  In 1976, he obtained a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota, became licensed as a psychologist by the State of California, and worked in psychology at UCLA, the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.  Jim received his law degree in 1982 from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (formerly Boalt Hall).  Jim started his practice of law at Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp and has practiced business law and business litigation continuously since his admission to the Bar in 1982.

 

Jim litigates business matters in state and federal courts, and in arbitral forums.  Areas of practice include intellectual property matters (including patent, trademark, and trade secret cases), unfair competition, employment disputes (including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and breach of contract cases), entertainment disputes, real estate disputes, partnership disputes, corporate governance, the representation of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings (including lien priorities, preferences, and fraudulent transfers), and appellate practice including writ applications and full appeals.  Representative matters are available upon request.

 

Jim is president and director of The Stanley E. Hanson Foundation, a private foundation whose purpose is to improve the lives of children and veterans through charitable giving.  In that capacity, Jim has the responsibility to vet and make grants to deserving charities.  Representative grantees are Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, The Starkey Hearing Foundation, No Kid Hungry, and South Central Scholars.