James E. Gillenwater

no photo

Biography

James Gillenwater has represented clients such as Fortune 100 companies, world leaders, and Olympians in high-stakes international disputes, including trials and arbitrations. His wide-ranging practice spans commercial and securities class actions, business litigation, intellectual property disputes, professional sports work, and products liability cases. James has also handled complex white collar investigations and administrative challenges, securing OFAC delistings and INTERPOL red notice cancellations.

A former captain of the U.S. National Rugby Sevens Team, James brings the same discipline, determination, and team-oriented approach to advocating for his clients. James has first-chaired trials in both state and federal court, handled domestic and international arbitrations before various institutions-including the ICC, AAA, and JAMS-and argued in courts across the country, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

James’s international representations focus on Latin America, and have involved Argentina, Bolivia, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

Judicial Clerkships

•Hon. Robert N. Chatigny, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 2012-2013

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution - General Commercial Disputes, 2024-2025
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Future Star,' 2025-2026
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, '40 & Under Hot List,' 2022-2023; 2023-2024
•Listed, South Florida Business Journal, '40 Under 40,' 2022
•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 'Ones to Watch,' Litigation - Securities, 2021-2022
•Listed, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 'Pro Bono Honor Roll,' 2021
Law360, “Legal Lion,” 2020
Daily Business Review, member of 'Most Effective,' International Litigation team, 2019
Law360, “Legal Lion,” 2018
•Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2015

Areas of Practice (20)

  • Trial Practice
  • Trial Practice
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • International Arbitration & Litigation
  • International Arbitration & Litigation
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • White Collar Defense & Investigations
  • White Collar Defense & Investigations
  • Litigation
  • Litigation
  • Equine Industry Group
  • Equine Industry Group
  • Complex Torts
  • Complex Torts

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
Vanderbilt University, B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 2005
Law School Attended:
Duke University School of Law, J.D., Magna Cum Laude; Order of the Coif; Note Editor, Duke Law Journal; Justin Miller Award for Citizenship, 2012
Year of First Admission:
2014
Admission:
Florida; New York; District of Columbia; U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida; U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Memberships:

Professional & Community Involvement

•Vice-Chair Hiring Committee, Miami Office, 2020-Present
•World Rugby Judicial Panelist, 2017-2018
•Athlete Representative, United States Olympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council, 2010-2016
•United States National Rugby 7s Team
•Player, 2006-2009; Captain, 2009
•Co-Founder, United States Rugby Players Association, 2016
•Albert Schweitzer fellow, Durham, North Carolina, 2010-2011
•Fulbright Scholar, English Teaching Assistant, La Universidad Nacional de la Pampa, Santa Rosa, Argentina, 2007

Languages:
Spanish and French
Reported Cases:
Experience: Class Actions and Securities Litigation: Won dismissal of a $75 million putative fraud class action on behalf of a U.K. digital payment company. See Law360, UK Payments Co. Escapes Claims It Aided $75M Forex Fraud.; Obtained dismissal of an insurance class action seeking interest on property claims on behalf of a major insurance company. See Insurance Journal, Florida Insureds Can't Force Interest on Late Claims Payments, Courts Say; Daily Business Review, Florida Judge Rules Against Class Action Trend Seeking Interest on Insurance Claims; Law360, Insurer Doesn't Have To Pay Irma Award Interest, Judge Says.; Won dismissal of a federal securities fraud action against a national health care administration company. See Law360, ''Boilerplate' Mednax Stock Drop Suit Dismissed,' and 'Mednax Wins Ax Of Investors' Securities Suit.'; Secured dismissal of a consumer class action against an international resort operator on forum non conveniens. See Law360, 'Suit Over Sandals' Fake Local Taxes Dismissed By Fla. Court.'; Obtained dismissal of a federal securities fraud action against a major telecommunications company.; Achieved resolution of a federal consumer class action on behalf of a Fortune 100 retail company.; Achieved resolution of a federal insurance class action on behalf of a Fortune 100 managed care company.; Achieved resolution of federal false-advertising class action on behalf of global eyewear retailer.; Represent venture capital firm in class action alleging fraudulent inducement to purchase over $25 million in shares in a cannabis company; recently argued and defeated the sellers' motion to dismiss our client's state and federal securities fraud claims.; International Commercial Litigation: In a $3 billion global dispute, won motion to stay Florida litigation that overlapped with first-filed foreign proceedings based on principles of comity on behalf of the wife and daughters of a deceased Russian billionaire.; Won dismissal and attorneys' fees in civil RICO and theft of trade secrets lawsuit filed by a former U.S. President on behalf of an American tech company.; Represented a Chinese tech company in a two-week breach of contract trial, precluding the plaintiff from recovering more than 99% of the damages sought, for which James's trial team was named the year's most effective international litigators by the Daily Business Review . See also Law360, 11th Circ. Won't Touch Damages In Electronics Sale Suit.; Represented the former president and defense minister of a Latin American country in a month-long federal trial.; Argued and won numerous dispositive motions on behalf of one of the world's largest transportation network companies.; Obtained a seven-figure settlement in a federal breach of contract lawsuit on behalf of a Spanish agrochemical company.; Achieved resolution of a multimillion-dollar nonpayment lawsuit on behalf of a blockchain development company.; Achieved resolution of a multimillion-dollar AAA arbitration on behalf of a major global manufacturer.; Represented multinational consumer electronics company in ICC arbitration over patent cross-licensing agreements.; Won dismissal of civil RICO and tort claims against a Latin American bank and its directors.; Achieved resolution of a series of mass tort cases for an international energy company.; Intellectual Property and Sports Litigation: Won a multi-million dollar verdict following a month-long international trademark infringement and counterfeiting trial on behalf of one of the world's largest circuit board manufacturers, also proving that the defendants committed fraud on the USPTO and that the case was 'exceptional,' entitling our client to attorneys' fees. See Law.com, From a Vanishing Source to 200,000 Documents: How Greenberg Traurig Secured a Trademark Win; Shenzhen Kinwong Elec. Co. v. Kukreja, No. 18-CV-61550, --- F. Supp. 3d ---, 2025 WL 1009008, (S.D. Fla. Apr. 4, 2025).; Argued and won summary judgment on behalf of a Chinese circuit board manufacturer in a multimillion-dollar international trademark infringement lawsuit. See Shenzhen Kinwong Elec. Co. v. Kukreja, 574 F. Supp. 3d 1191, 1195 (S.D. Fla. 2021).; Secured dismissal of international trademark infringement lawsuit brought by professional soccer team on behalf of a Miami-based global investment firm. See Greenberg Traurig Prevails for KRF Capital in International Sports Trademark Case .; Achieved resolution of copyright infringement lawsuit involving dress designs on behalf of international fashion brand.; Achieved resolution of trademark infringement lawsuit involving professional sports sponsorships on behalf of global beverage company and Miami-based brewery.; Represented professional soccer and rugby teams and athletes in commercial litigation, antitrust actions, anti-doping cases, and disciplinary hearings before state and federal courts, judicial officers, and arbitral bodies, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport.; White Collar Defense & Investigations: Secured suspension of INTERPOL Red Notice and release of client wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey in connection with the assassination of Haitian president. See Greenberg Traurig Secures Samir Handal's Release from Turkish Prison and His Return to United States .; Handled multiple international FCPA investigations for global media and communications companies.; Navigated a DOJ Swiss bank investigation, ensuring the non-prosecution of a former executive.; Secured multiple OFAC sanctions delistings.; The above representations were handled by Mr. Gillenwater prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
ISLN:
923045881

Payment Information

Credit Cards Accepted
American Express

Peer Reviews

This lawyer does not have peer reviews.

Client Reviews Write a Review

Location

Contact James E. Gillenwater

Contact Information:

Required Fields

Required Fields


By clicking on the "Submit" button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Martindale and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.