James P. Ware is a trial and appellate lawyer who represents businesses, property owners, estates, and individuals in complex, high-stakes disputes. He is known for combining rigorous legal analysis with practical business judgment, helping clients navigate litigation with a clear understanding of both risk and opportunity.
James began his career at a respected boutique business law firm in Bellevue, Washington, where he spent 17 years building a broad litigation and appellate practice and ultimately served as chair of the firm’s litigation department. Over that time, he handled matters spanning commercial disputes, tax-related litigation, real estate and property claims, wrongful death matters, and regulatory proceedings.
He has served as lead trial counsel in numerous jury and bench trials in Washington state and federal courts and has successfully argued appeals before all three divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. James has also represented clients in administrative and quasi-judicial proceedings before the Washington Board of Tax Appeals and the Washington State Department of Revenue.
James has also helped shape Washington law through successful appellate advocacy, including decisions addressing the statute of limitations applicable to malpractice and negligence claims against tax professionals and the reach of Washington’s tied-house laws in the cannabis industry.
His clients have ranged from individual homeowners and families to privately held businesses and multinational corporations. Whether the matter involves a bet-the-company business dispute or a deeply personal civil claim, James is committed to providing clients with candid advice, strategic clarity, and strong courtroom advocacy.
Originally from the South and raised in part in Colorado, James has called the greater Seattle area home since 2005. Outside his practice, he enjoys hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and gardening. Having obtained a degree in music (James played the French horn) he also maintains a longstanding interest in music and enjoys concerts, musicals, and performances by the Seattle Symphony.
