James Craig Carpenter

Known for his tenacious advocacy for his clients’ interest, and with nearly 50 years of trial experience, Jim Carpenter has been helping Ohio businesses navigate complex litigation matters and disputes. His decades of experience in business law matters allows him to get to the heart of the issue quickly, help clients control and manage the cost of litigation, and devise a solid solution based on business principles. Jim is no stranger in the courtroom and approaches a case as if it may go to trial.

Jim is brought in when a company or its owners face a high-stakes dispute that is on the verge of breaking out into expensive and disruptive litigation. With his business-minded approach to managing cases, he is known by colleagues, judges, clients, and opposing counsel as being an effective advocate and patient negotiator. Jim is often heard saying, “The little things are the big things.” Clients value his ability to dial into the details which can be the difference in resolving a matter swiftly and favorably.

Beyond handling complex business disputes, Jim’s practice includes representing clients in industries such as financial services, construction, real estate, and industrial and manufacturing. He also represents corporate management teams and boards of directors regarding their legal and fiduciary duties.

When not practicing law, Jim has long been an outdoor enthusiast, though some may say an adventurist. Formerly a professional tennis player, he has enjoyed being a serious mountain climber, as well as cyclist and golfer. When he needs downtime from the outdoors, Jim enjoys cooking.

Experience

•National and regional lead counsel in representation of the banking industry in check payment and regulatory litigation, negotiable instruments, bank deposits, ACH and wire transfers
•Defended public and closed corporations, corporate officers in directors liability and fiduciary duty
•Obtained multi-million dollar verdict in a “bet the company” construction case on behalf of family owned HVAC subcontractor in disagreement with the general contractor during the construction of a publicly funded K-High School education campus
•Plaintiff’s Counsel in multidistrict airline crash wrongful death action
•Successfully argued in bankruptcy court on behalf of restaurant entrepreneur, resulting in a valid, multi-million dollar contractual obligation not being enforceable due to breach of fiduciary duty by the bankrupt party
•Obtained decision by the West Virginia Supreme Court interpreting the Uniform Commercial Code that resulted in the recovery of corporate funds in excess of $1 million that were mishandled by corporate treasurer for personal use
•Acted as lead trial counsel in dozens of cases defending claims of alleged architectural, engineering, accounting, legal, or medical professional negligence/malpractice
•Defended public and closed corporations, corporate officers in directors liability and fiduciary duty litigation
•Representation in complex business and commercial litigation, bankruptcy court adversary actions, federal multidistrict litigation, construction, and products liability, both in court and in arbitrations
•Lead counsel in major disputes involving school, highway, and commercial construction, and related eminent domain litigation
•Lead jury trial counsel in over 4 states
•Lead probate trial counsel - voiding stock voting power and options agreement of executor

Honors

• Columbus CEO Top Lawyers, 2025

• America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators

• AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

• Best Lawyers in America, 2012-2026 (recognized in the following areas: Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, Construction Law, Public Liability Law-Defense, Professional Malpractice-Defense, Medical Malpractice-Defense)

• Best Lawyers in America,“Lawyer of the Year”

• Medical Malpractice Defense, 2024

• Professional Malpractice Defense, 2019, 2023

• Banking Finance Litigation Defense, 2023

• Product Liability Litigation Defense, 2017, 2019, 2022-2025

• Chief of Staff, Washington D.C., to U.S. Representative Bob Shamansky, D-OH (Mid East SubComittee House Foreign Affairs Committee; House Science & Technology Committee; House Committee on Aging), 1981-1982

• Super Lawyers

• Who’s Who: In American Law, Emerging Leaders in America, In The Midwest

• Marquis Who’s Who, Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award

Articles & Presentations

Articles

• Understanding The Ground Rules for an Apex Deposition Is Critical, October 15, 2025

• Apex Depositions Bring High Tension and Drama to Business Litigation, October 8, 2025

• Veteran Litigator James Carpenter Joins Isaac Wiles, July 23, 2024

• American Bar Association, Authored Outline of Ohio’s Construction Contracting Laws In Connection With ABA