James Carlson assists clients with their most important legal issues worldwide, including antitrust, contracts, the False Claims Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act, intellectual property, public nuisance, shareholder actions, special litigation committees, state consumer protection and unfair trade practices claims, regulatory investigations, tort actions, and securities fraud. He also has significant experience with multistate litigations, including involving the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
James's recent matters include the defense of several major oil and gas companies in connection with tort and regulatory matters; the defense of a leading retailer in a case brought by the Department of Justice alleging violations of the Controlled Substances Act, resulting in a settlement for a fraction of the amount the Department initially claimed; the defense of public nuisance-related claims in state and federal courts across the country, including leading the defense of scores of lawsuits filed across Pennsylvania; and representing a prominent telecommunications company in connection with competition and patent actions around the world, which was one of the largest antitrust and intellectual property actions ever and ended with the plaintiff making a payment to the client.
Before Jones Day, James practiced in the New York office of a major American law firm. During this time, James defended a multinational bank in hundreds of actions related to residential mortgage-backed securities and represented companies in international and U.S. regulatory investigations.
James is also active in the community. He is on the Executive Leadership Team for the March for Babies and a member of the Board of Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Montessori School.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Represented a multinational bank in connection with civil suits related to mortgage-backed securities offerings in state and federal courts throughout the country, including managing several trial teams for cases that resulted in settlement.
Represented the outside directors of a prominent mining company in obtaining complete dismissal of shareholder suits in West Virginia and Delaware, including successfully defending an appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
Represented an international cosmetics manufacturer and direct sales company in an FCPA investigation involving both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission and spanning multiple countries.
Represented a major film company in connection with an accounting investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Represented a multinational beverage company in connection with the Department of Justice's merger review process for the approval of its merger with another multinational beverage company.
Represented a big four accounting firm in connection with civil suits stemming from the collapse of Bear Stearns and the financial crisis.
- Columbia University (J.D. 2009; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; James Kent Scholar; Simon H. Rifkind Prize for the best overall performance in the first year moot court); Case Western Reserve University (B.A. in Economics and History summa cum laude 2006; Phi Beta Kappa)
- Pennsylvania, New York, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania and the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York
- Best Lawyers in America (2026 and 2027)
- Law Clerk to Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (2011-2012)