James D. Lawrence

  1. People /

James D. Lawrence

James D. Lawrence

Partner

  1. People /

James D. Lawrence

James D. Lawrence

Partner

James D. Lawrence

Partner

Kansas City

T: +1 816 374 3378

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Biography

Jim is a commercial litigator and trial lawyer and leads the firm’s Kansas City Commercial Disputes Team. He handles a wide range of disputes arising in the U.S. and abroad, representing some of the largest financial institutions, insurance companies and other national and multinational corporations in complex litigation involving loan disputes, breach of contract, fraud and unfair business practices, among other matters. He has successfully represented clients in disputes with more than six hundred million dollars at issue. Jim is experienced in litigation matters including lender liability claims; compliance with federal laws and regulations; breach of fiduciary duty claims; contract disputes; ownership disputes between partners, shareholders, or members of closely held businesses; trade secret and non-competition claims; class action claims; and insurance coverage issues. Jim has experience advising clients from the investigation phase through trial and appeal for matters pending in state and federal court, including representations in bankruptcy court, the Missouri Public Service Commission, and before multiple courts simultaneously.

In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Jim co-leads the firm’s Higher Education Team. He frequently works with institutions and their leadership to navigate the complex regulatory, federal enforcement, intellectual property, commercial and litigation challenges such institutions confront on a daily basis. He serves as acting general counsel of a multi-campus private university. In addition to his role as acting general counsel, he routinely advises higher education clients regarding compliance with all laws and regulations; faculty compensation; Title IX controversies; campus safety; online learning; the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); and effective ways to manage and control risks.

Jim began his legal career with a law firm in New York City. While in law school, he was a member of the Cardozo Law Review and was named an H. Burt Mack Scholar.

Areas of Focus

  • Logistics & Industrial

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • BCLP LGBTQ Lawyers Affinity Group / Allies Program Leader
  • BCLP Global Wellbeing Advisory and Action Board
  • Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: Board of Trustees (2021-present)
  • Kansas City Downtown Council:  Board of Directors (2017-2019)
  • Police Athletic League of Kansas City, Kansas:  Board of Directors (2019-present)
  • The Kansas City Tomorrow leadership program (Class XIX)
  • Carriage Club Country Club:  Board President (2017-2018); Vice President (2015-2016); Board of Directors (2014-2016)
  • The Kansas City Tomorrow Alumni Association: Board of Directors (2020-present)
  • Ingram’s Magazine – Selected as one of the "Top 40 Under 40" business leaders in the Kansas City region (2007)
  • Kansas City Business Journal - selected as one of Kansas City's 25 NextGen Leaders (2018)
  • Kansas City Business Journal - selected "Best of the Bar" recognizing outstanding lawyers throughout the Kansas City area, as chosen by their peers
  • St. Joseph School District Foundation Annual Banquet:  Keynote Speaker (2017)
  • KC CAN! Foundation - Board of Directors
  • National MS Society - Mid America Chapter, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees
  • Heart of America United Way - Key Accounts Ambassado

Professional Affiliations

  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; American Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association; Missouri Bar Association; New York Bar Association
  • Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce

  • Recruiting Committee

Admissions

  • Kansas, 2006
  • Missouri, 2001
  • New York, 2000
  • United States District Courts for the District of Kansas, Western District of Missouri, and Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
    United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Education

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1999

University of Missouri-Columbia, B.J., 1991

Related Practice Areas

  • Business & Commercial Disputes

  • Fiduciary Disputes

  • Sports & Entertainment Contract, Endorsement & Celebrity Representation Practice

  • Anti-Doping Practice

  • Sports & Event Venue Real Estate Infrastructure and Operation

  • Naming Rights & Sponsorship Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment M&A Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Litigation Practice

  • Collegiate Sports Practice

  • Sports & Entertainment Specialty Counseling Practice

  • Entertainment Industry Practice

  • Employment Class & Collective Actions

  • Sports (Class Actions)

  • Data Privacy, Telecommunications & Collections

  • Toxic Tort

  • Olympic & National Governing Body Practice

  • Professional Sports Team Practice

  • Antitrust Class Actions

  • Shareholder Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Food, Ag & Nutrition (Class Actions)

  • Complex Coverage & Claims Disputes

  • Real Estate

  • Real Estate Disputes

  • Sports & Event Financing

  • Class Actions & Mass Torts

  • Financial Services

  • Reinsurance Transactions & Disputes

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Campus Free Expression

  • Catastrophic Accidents

  • Consumer Fraud

  • Consumer Products

  • Food, Ag & Nutrition

  • Insurance (Class Actions)

  • Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices (Class Actions)

  • Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices (Mass Torts)

  • Higher Education Team

  • Class Actions

  • Mass Torts & Product Liability

  • Sports & Entertainment

Experience

  • Acting General Counsel of multi-campus private university
  • Advise higher education clients on a variety of issues including compliance and risk mitigation
  • Prosecution of business defamation, tortuous interference and breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by minority shareholder of defendant corporation
  • Represented major national bank in large fiduciary trust litigation
  • Represented banks in lender liability litigation
  • Represented regulated utility companies in both state and federal courts and before the Missouri Public Service Commission
  • Represented the Professional Golfers Association of America in complex litigation in federal court
  • On-going representation of major building materials manufacturer in a broad range of activities including risk counseling and litigation around the country
  • On-going representation of major big-box retailer in construction, employment, and labor matters
  • Successful defense of class action lawsuits filed against national telecommunications companies and automotive manufacturers
  • On-going representation of international logistics company including counseling, litigation, and risk management
  • Representation of commercial and lending clients in real estate and commercial litigation cases in both state and federal courts
  • Successful arbitration and mediation of various commercial and employment disputes. Claims involve professional negligence, fraud, statutory claims, breach of contract, and products liability
  • Successfully pursued and defended numerous non-competition and trade secret claims in both state and federal courts

Resources

Publications

Co-author, “Thompson Reuters Practical Law: Contract Basics for Litigators: Missouri,” with Practical Law Commercial Litigation, December 14, 2022

Speaking Engagements

Jim regularly provides continuing legal education seminars for BCLP attorneys and its clients on a broad range of litigation topics.

Panelist, "The Road to Recovery: Addiction, Gambling and Mental Health," This Can Happen Conference, November 16-17, 2021

Related Insights

Insights
Feb 02, 2021

Considering Cutting Varsity Sports Teams Due To COVID-19 Financial Strains? Make Sure You Comply With Title IX First!

The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to college and university athletic programs over the past 10 months. The institution-wide budgetary challenges caused by the pandemic have been particularly acute in many athletic departments. In reaction to these budgetary issues, many institutions have decided to pare down their athletic programs. As of November 2020, more than 350 teams had been cut nationally. With long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on institutional budgets anticipated, more athletic programs may be compelled to tighten their belts and sorely tempted to eliminate non-revenue sports. This alert provides insights into the gender equity concerns raised by team elimination decisions.

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Insights
Feb 02, 2021
Considering Cutting Varsity Sports Teams Due To COVID-19 Financial Strains? Make Sure You Comply With Title IX First!
The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to college and university athletic programs over the past 10 months. The institution-wide budgetary challenges caused by the pandemic have been particularly acute in many athletic departments. In reaction to these budgetary issues, many institutions have decided to pare down their athletic programs. As of November 2020, more than 350 teams had been cut nationally. With long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on institutional budgets anticipated, more athletic programs may be compelled to tighten their belts and sorely tempted to eliminate non-revenue sports. This alert provides insights into the gender equity concerns raised by team elimination decisions.