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), 2018-2026
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law), 2020-2026
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (Litigation – Antitrust), 2021-2026
  • Best Lawyers® 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” (Litigation – Banking and Finance)
  • 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
  • Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association
  • Antitrust Committee, American Bar Association
  • Past President, Board of Trustees, Riverside Presbyterian Day School
  • Past President, Board of Governors, Timuquana Country Club
  • Past Board Member, Cornerstone of Jacksonville, Inc.
  • Past Board Member, Otis Smith Kids Foundation
  • Past President and a founder of Riverside Youth Basketball League
  • Elder, Riverside Presbyterian Church
  • Keep it Clean Committee, Five Points Association

Representative Matters

  • 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.
  • Obtained a nearly $200 million judgment against the owners of a resort hotel and convention center in North Florida.
  • Lead counsel for interventional radiology physicians who successfully prosecuted antitrust claims against hospital and competing radiology group who had entered into an exclusive physician service agreement.
  • 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 Florida counsel for medical device manufacturer in successful defense of national class action lawsuit asserting price-fixing conspiracy.  Case settled one week before 5-week jury trial was to begin.
  • Has defended numerous antitrust lawsuits in federal and state courts, 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.
  • 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 an internationally known professional athlete and television personality to defeat a claim brought by a former personal agent claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 35 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.