James M. Tompkins

Within these areas, Jim has litigated hundreds of cases, many of which were tried to either verdict or judgment. Approximately one-fourth of these cases were jury trials, and approximately two-thirds of them were in Federal Court. He has been the lead attorney in approximately forty opinions published by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the district and appellate courts of Texas and Louisiana.

After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1968 with his B.A and an officer’s commission from the U.S. Marine Corps, Jim’s active duty was delayed while he attended law school at L.S.U. He earned his J.D. there in 1971 and then reported to the Marine Corps’ Basic School for combat training, from which he graduated with honors. He served most of his three years of active duty with the rank of Captain and was assigned to work in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s office. There, he drafted a complete civil and criminal code for Midway Island, which was approved by the Secretary of the Navy and enacted, with Congressional approval in 1975.

Jim’s civilian legal career began in 1974, and he concentrated his efforts in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, principally as defense trial counsel, where he achieved early and accelerated success.

In 1987, James Tompkins became one of the four founding shareholders as well as the Managing Director of Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins & Burr in New Orleans. In 1993, the firm expanded from New Orleans to Houston, and Jim became the managing director of the Houston office of GJTBS. While he continues to lead the Houston office (which has grown significantly over the years), he returned to the duties as Managing Director of the firm in January of 2006 for a 3-year stint. Now the firm has nine offices across the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, employing almost 100 lawyers and their support staffs.

Both a leader and a strategic partner, Jim has a knack for helping clients discern opportunities and make connections which add value to their companies. It takes balance to keep a ship afloat, and Jim’s approach to life, coupled with his legal acumen, have given him the ability not only to balance the ship, but keep it moving in the right direction!