James M. Riley

SHAREHOLDER

Professional Experience / Bio

James is co-chair of Rogers Towers’ litigation department.  His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, with emphasis on antitrust litigation, eminent domain and condemnation law, intellectual property litigation, banking and creditors’ rights litigation, and federal and state securities litigation.

Areas of Practice

Litigation
Antitrust Litigation
Eminent Domain & Condemnation
Banking and Financial Services
Intellectual Property & Technology

Education

  • University of Georgia B.S. 1984
  • University of Florida College of Law J.D. 1987

Awards & Distinctions

  • AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Banking and Finance), 2018-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law), 2020-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (Litigation – Antitrust), 2021-2024
  • Best Lawyers® Jacksonville Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law “Lawyer of the Year”, 2022
  • Member, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
  • Recipient, YMCA Volunteers of the Year, 2007
  • Recipient, The Hon. Jefferson W. Morrow Award for Outstanding Service

Bar Association Membership

  • The Florida Bar
  • Jacksonville Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Court Admissions

  • United States Supreme Court
  • 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States District Court, Northern, Middle and Southern District of Florida

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Eminent Domain Committee, Florida Bar
  • Antitrust Committee, American Bar Association
  • Public Investors, Arbitration Bar Association
  • Former President, Board of Trustees, Riverside Presbyterian Day School
  • President, Board of Governors, Timuquana Country Club
  • Past Board Member, Cornerstone of Jacksonville, Inc.
  • Past Board Member, Otis Smith Kids Foundation
  • President, Board Member and Co-Founder of Riverside Youth Basketball League
  • Elder, Riverside Presbyterian Church
  • Coach and Referee for Youth Basketball

Representative Matters

  • Obtained a nearly $200 million judgment against the owners of a resort hotel and convention center in North Florida
  • Represented 18 “Tenant-in-Common” investors case whose $30 million investment in a Texas commercial building was foreclosed. Filed suit in Orange County, California against a national property and asset management firm for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty.   The case settled two weeks before a jury trial was to begin, resulting in a substantial settlement for investors.
  • Lead trial counsel for beer distributor in defense of highly-publicized $234 million alleged racketeering (“RICO”) and defamation lawsuit. Case involved over 100 depositions. Mr. Riley obtained summary judgment for his client one month before the start of trial.
  • Has represented the PGA TOUR in numerous litigation matters.  Co-lead trial counsel in successful defense of antitrust case closely watched across the country concerning the transmission of scoring information via the Internet. Morris Communications Corp. v. PGA TOUR, Inc., 364 F. 3d 1288 (11th Cir. 2004) cert.den 125 S. Ct. 87 (2004).
  • Lead trial counsel in class action filed on behalf of more than 300 condo unit owners against Manager and Owner asserting damages for undisclosed charges and packaging fees. Class was certified and a seven-figure settlement was confirmed by Court in Volusia County.
  • Lead trial counsel for one of Duval County’s first “Zoom” trials.
  • Has represented private landowners and commercial tenants in connection with a variety of eminent domain cases, including inverse condemnation proceedings, throughout the State of Florida. A representative list of clients include retail shopping centers, churches, car dealerships, restaurants, hotels, travel centers, farms, mobile home parks, hospitals and homeowners, many of which resulted in the recovery of substantial business damages.
  • Lead Florida counsel in successful defense of securities class action where shareholders sought tens of millions of dollars in damages arising out of multi-billion dollar acquisition of Florida-based transportation company.
  • Successfully defended internationally known professional athlete and television personality in a claim brought by a former personal agent claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • Lead counsel in successful defense of New York Stock Exchange company in multi-million dollar claim brought by founder of company for alleged breach of stock option agreements and improper conduct by board of directors.
  • Appointed as arbitrator in North Florida for extensive class action securities case against major broker dealer.
  • Defended numerous antitrust lawsuits, including claims involving international shipping contracts, contact lenses, retail outlet centers, hospitals, grocery stores, birthing clinics, wetlands mitigation banks, oil lube shops and discount furniture stores.
  • Routinely represents investors who have been defrauded or otherwise improperly treated in connection with the purchase and sale of securities, including inappropriate or unsuitable recommendations, excessive or unauthorized trading or churning, false or misleading representations and corporate fraud or mismanagement.
  • Successfully prosecuted lawsuits involving director and officer liability, professional malpractice, partnership disputes and shareholder derivative claims.
  • Over 30 years experience representing lenders throughout Florida in actions involving non-performing assets, including foreclosure and deficiency actions, lender-liability claims, receiverships and bankruptcy cases.
  • Substantial courtroom experience in federal and state courts throughout Florida.