James Bennett Kinsel

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James Bennett Kinsel: Attorney with Protorae Law PLLC
Attorney Awards
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating
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Biography

Jim Kinsel serves as a Managing Partner at Protorae Law and Co-Chair of the firm’s litigation teams. He is a trial attorney who focuses on business litigation, business breakups, disputes over ownership of businesses, and unfair business practice claims. Jim co-founded Protorae Law in 2010, and built the firm’s litigation team.

During his career, Jim has prosecuted and defended countless litigation matters. Jim is accustomed to handling bet-the-company disputes. He is also experienced with advocating for and defending against preliminary injunction motions and temporary restraining order motions.

In 2015, he guided Protorae Law’s litigation team in achieving the second highest jury verdict awarded during that year in Virginia. That same year, he successfully defended another client against a $55 million complaint to reduce the plaintiff’s maximum recovery to no more than nominal damages while also launching a defense of a $10 million claim in a third case. The denial of the claimed actual damages of $55 million was named by the Virginia Lawyers Weekly as one of 2015’s most important opinions.

Jim focuses on litigation involving business disputes such as business conspiracy, trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty, and other unfair business practices. In addition, he handles contract claims, including disputes involving noncompete agreements, shareholder agreements or LLC operating agreements. Jim also represents minority and majority owners in disputes over whether someone is a business owner and those involving shareholder oppression and minority squeeze-out claims.

Jim has steered many disputes to favorable outcomes for his clients at trial, through pre-trial motions practice, or settlement with or without mediation. Jim’s well-considered litigation strategies help his clients safeguard critical business and individual assets, including trade secrets, client lists, business relationships, and other proprietary information. When representing individual owners, Jim works to protect their ownership interests.

Jim provides his clients with strategic advice early-on to help them determine how best to resolve a dispute. He is often able to negotiate favorable resolutions before litigation costs escalate. If a settlement cannot be reached, his extensive experience handling complex litigation matters within federal and state courts allows him to aggressively advance his clients’ interests at trial.

Electronic discovery is integral to Jim’s case management. He is able to quickly assess the appropriate scope of electronic discovery for each litigation matter, and provide his clients with an up-front evaluation of the cases’ strengths and weaknesses.

After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1998, Jim clerked for the Honorable Norman K. Moon in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. He then joined the Jefferson Law Firm, which became the Tysons office of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC. He later became a partner at Williams Mullen before co-founding Protorae Law.

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Areas of Practice (3)

  • Business Litigation
  • Unfair Business Practices
  • Business Breakups

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
James Madison University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1994
Law School Attended:
University of Virginia, J.D., 1998
Year of First Admission:
1999
Admission:
1999, Virginia; 2000, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Reported Cases:
Centennial Broadcasting, LLC v. Gary E. Burns and 3 Daughters Media, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24074 (W.D. Va. March 20, 2006) and 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70974 (W.D. Va. Sept. 29, 2006); Dennis Stubbs Plumbing, Inc. v. PMA Properties, 815 L.L.C., et al., 2006 Va. Cir. LEXIS 70 (2006).
ISLN:
914108458

Payment Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Available
Credit Cards Accepted
MasterCard, Other, Visa
Other Information
Free initial consultation, Fixed fees available

Peer Reviews

4.7/5.0 (12 reviews)

  • Legal Knowledge

    4.7/5.0

  • Analytical Capability

    4.8/5.0

  • Judgment

    4.6/5.0

  • Communication

    4.8/5.0

  • Legal Experience

    4.8/5.0

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a General Counsel on 10/13/16 in Business Litigation

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Managing Partner on 10/12/16 in Business Litigation

    I have known Jim as a fellow professional for a number of years and have had matter with him, as co-counsel, and against him. Jim is a vigorous advocate for his clients and worthy opponent. I give Jim my unqualified recommendation.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Associate on 10/05/16 in Business Litigation

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Principal on 08/10/16 in Business Litigation

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Of Counsel on 08/08/16 in Business Litigation

    Jim is an excellent trial lawyer. I have worked with him since he first started private practice and I have seen him evolve into a top notch litigator with the highest ethical standards.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 08/08/16 in Business Litigation

    I have known Jim Kinsel for about 5 years and often refer my clients to him for litigation matters. I would not hesitate to do so in the future, as my clients have always given positive feedback from the referral.

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  • 4.8/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 02/28/21 in Business Law

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  • 4.8/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 12/20/17 in Business Litigation

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  • 4.6/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 08/08/16 in Business Litigation

    Jim is a very good lawyer who litigates a business dispute case very hard, but always in an ethical fashion. Jim does a nice job in court and in depositions.

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  • 4.4/5.0 Rated by a Sole Practitioner on 10/06/16 in Business Litigation

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Peer reviews submitted prior to 2008 are not displayed.

Client Reviews Write a Review

Location

  • Tysons, VA
    Tysons International Plaza , 1921 Gallows Road 9th Floor
    Tysons, VA 22182

    571-597-6700 Phone
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