James D.

Biography Jim Vail joined the Firm in 1979 and has been a Partner since 1986. He served as the Firms Managing Partner from 1996 through 2019. Jim primarily counsels businesses, nonprofit and health care organizations in all aspects of their operations, including formations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, contracting, and succession planning. Jim argued a case before the United States Supreme Court where he obtained a unanimous favorable decision. Spectrum Sports, Inc. v. McQuillan, 506 U. S. 447 (1992). Jim has appeared before courts at all levels in Ohio, as well as various federal district courts, and the Sixth and Ninth Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal. Jim currently serves on the board of directors of the Center for Community Solutions. He was previously a member of the Cleveland Heights Charter Review Commission, and has served on several boards of directors including Family Connections, Ingenuity Festival, Heights Parent Center, Cleveland Heights/University Heights Public Library, and Reaching Heights. Jim has lived in Cleveland Heights for more than 40 years and is active in several Cleveland Heights organizations. Licensed to Practice Ohio Education Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J. D., 1979 Case Western Reserve University, B. A., 1975 Admissions & Associations State of Ohio Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals U. S. Supreme Court American Bar Association, Member Ohio State Bar Association, Member Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member American Health Lawyers Association, Member Eighth District Judicial Conference, Life Member Awards & Honors Matindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2017 for Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation Corporate Law Health Care Law Real Estate Law Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers® list: 2023-present Community Activities The Center for Community Solutions, Board Member Family Connections, Former Director