JAMES JOHNSON, associate attorney, is an experienced litigator who combines behind-the-bench insights with thoughtful advocacy to effectively help clients protect and defend their interests across a broad spectrum of complex business, professional liability, and other high-stakes disputes.
A member of Maddin Hauser’s Professional Liability Defense and Insurance Coverage Group, James represents corporate entities, officers, directors, and specialized professionals across a broad range of high-value sectors, including law, financial services, insurance, real estate, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology, and other sophisticated professional-services industries. He also defends clients in a range of administrative and disciplinary investigations and proceedings.
James’ practice encompasses high-stakes professional liability claims, Director and Officer (D&O) liability actions, Errors and Omissions (E&O) claims, allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and/or breach of contract, business torts, corporate misconduct, corporate governance disputes, whistleblower defense, and matters pending before the Judicial Tenure Commission, Attorney Discipline Board, and Attorney Grievance Commission.
The businesses and individuals James represents reap the benefits of his diligence, his thorough and thoughtful legal analysis, and his ability to present written and oral arguments that connect with and persuade judges and juries. Those qualities, indispensable for success as a litigator, are a product of James’s significant experience practicing both in front of and within the judiciary.
Before joining Maddin Hauser, James practiced at a prominent full-service business law firm, where he led client representation in federal jury and bench trials, managed high-value commercial lawsuits, and defended corporate entities, officers, directors, and managers in a wide range of litigation matters. This work followed an impressive series of high-impact roles, including two post-graduate clerkships with federal judges.
James served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for Judges Victoria A. Roberts and Gershwin A. Drain, where he managed a substantial civil and criminal docket, drafted judicial opinions and bench memoranda, and oversaw trials and other court proceedings on numerous substantive matters. While in law school, he interned for Judge Laurie J. Michelson in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Through these experiences, James has developed highly valuable perspectives on trial strategy, meticulous legal analysis, judicial decision-making, and effective advocacy from the perspective of the bench.
In recognition of his commercial litigation acumen, James was selected for the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
