Jim joined the Litigation section at Coats Rose in May 2004, after six years of private practice in Georgia. At the University of Nebraska, Jim was the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon and was selected as one of the thirteen member Society of Innocents (Chancellor’s Senior Honorary). While pursuing his law degree, Jim was a member of the National Moot Court and National Mock Trial teams. In 1997, Jim won the Allen Senior Moot Court rounds before the Supreme Court of Nebraska and in 1998 graduated as a member of the Order of the Barristers.
Since 2005, Jim has authored articles for the Defense Research Institute including the Seven Habits of Highly Successful Litigators, Effective and Cost Efficient Partnering with Experts and is a regular contributor to the DRI’s Fifth Circuit update. In 2006, Jim was appinted to the State Bar of Texas District 4 Grievance Committee. Jim was selected by his peers as a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2007-2009 and 2011-2012.
Jim is married to Brenda Keller Collura and has three children.
Jim specializes in complex litigation matters in the areas of commercial litigation, professional malpractice, environmental and intellectual property. He has had extensive experience in a wide range of disputes including representation of corporations, professionals, oil and gas service companies, lending institutions, engineering firms and manufacturers. This experience includes all phases of litigation including bench and jury trials as well as civil appeals. Jim also practices before the American Arbitration Association.
University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.S., Biological Sciences, 1995; J.D., with distinction, 1998)
1998, Georgia
2004, Texas
U.S. District Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
State Bar of Texas
State Bar of Georgia
Houston Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
State Bar of Texas District 4 Grievance Committee Past Chairman,
State Bar of Georgia – Young Lawyer’s Division
Litigation Committee
IEL Advisory Board Member