James W. Walker

Partner

Office: Richmond

Direct: 804-403-7123

Fax: 804-237-0250

JWalker@nullohaganmeyer.com

  • Professional Overview

    Mr. Walker is an AV® rated trial lawyer who has tried over two hundred civil cases to verdict in the federal and state courts in Virginia and the District of Columbia. Mr. Walker’s practice focuses on complex and high stakes civil litigation, including defense of professional malpractice lawsuits against design professionals, accountants and lawyers, as well as construction defects, business torts, contract disputes, product liability, toxic torts, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death matters. Mr. Walker’s practice also includes representation of regulated professionals before licensing and disciplinary boards, in contract negotiations, risk management counseling, and frequent seminars and classes to regulated professionals regarding the risk management and the intersection of the law, insurance coverage, and professional services.

    Mr. Walker is admitted in the state and federal courts in Virginia and the District of Columbia.  He is an active member of the Virginia State Bar, The District of Columbia Bar Association, The Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, and the Defense Research Institute.

  • Practice Areas
  • Education and Admissions

    Education

    JURIS DOCTORATE, cum laude, University of Richmond School of Law - 1988

    • Charles T. Norman medal winner
    • McNeill Law Society
    • National Moot Court regional runner up
    • Law Review, Co-Chair of the National Conference of Law Reviews

    BACHELOR OF ARTS, University of Virginia - 1983

    Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
    • United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
    • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

    States Licensed

    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia
  • Professional Organization Memberships
    • Virginia Bar Association
    • Richmond Bar Association
    • Henrico County Bar Association
    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
    • DRI
  • News, Honors, Publications & Speeches
    AWARDS AND HONORS
    • AV rated by Martindale Hubbell
    • Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation and Litigation since 2012
    • “Legal Elite” in Civil Litigation by Virginia Business Magazine since 2009
    • “Super Lawyers” in Civil Litigation since 2019
    • Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society
    RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND SEMINARS
    • Lead Author, Civil Discovery in Virginia, Chapter 4
    • Key Factors in Client Selection, Travelers Insurance “Tips from the Bar” March 2019
    • Deconstructing Damages in A/E Malpractice Actions, DRI “For The Defense” magazine, April, 2019
    • Numerous continuing professional education classes and risk management seminars for accountants, architects and engineers
    REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS
    • Defense of design architect against claims of professional malpractice leading to additional costs and significant delays of performing arts center. Voluntarily dismissed without payment. (Charleston, SC)
    • Defense of architect against claims of professional negligence related to roof collapse during a five hundred-year rain event.  Pretrial demand was $8 million.  Settled for less than the cost of defense.  (USDC- Maryland)
    • Defense of architect against claims of professional malpractice in design of indoor tennis facility. Pretrial demand was over $1 million.  Summary Judgment.  (USDC – District of Columbia)
    • Defense of manufacture of assistive mobility device against claims of defective design.  Summary Judgment.  (USDC – Norfolk)
    • Defense of security company in lawsuit involving severe injuries where plaintiff fell three stories on premises guarded by the defendant.  Summary Judgment. (USDC - District of Columbia)
    • Defense of auditor against claims of accounting malpractice and extra contractual tort claims. Pretrial demand over $20 million.  Defense verdict; Affirmed on appeal. (Fairfax County)
    • Defense of lawsuit against security firm who provided guarding services at premises where plaintiff’s decedent was abducted and later killed. Dismissed with prejudice on demurrer. (Fairfax County)
    • Defense of product liability personal injury claim against insecticide manufacture. Defense verdict. (Virginia Beach)
    • Defense of operators of minor league baseball stadium against claims of design negligence relating to fan protection. Dismissed on demurrer.  (Pulaski County)
    • Defense of campus police in lawsuit brought by student raped on campus.  Summary judgment. (District of Columbia)
    • Defense of kerosene heater manufacturer in products liability/wrongful death lawsuit where plaintiff died from severe burns.  Defense verdict. (USDC-Richmond)
    • Defense of research scientist in theft of trade secrets and patent infringement lawsuit brought by former employer.  Defense verdict. (USDC-Richmond)