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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 litigation practice spans commercial and securities class actions, business disputes, intellectual property and 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.

Capabilities

Experience

  • 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. See Law360, Trump's RICO Suit Against Clinton Dismissed As 'Manifesto'; Law.com, Judge Trashes Trump's RICO Lawsuit Against Hillary Clinton, Perkins Coie; Law360,  Judge Hits Trump, Atty with Nearly $1M in Sanctions.
  • 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 ReviewSee also Law36011th 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.°
  • 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.

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Gillenwater prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

Recognition & Leadership

  • 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

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., magna cum laude, Duke University School of Law, 2012
    • Order of the Coif
    • Note Editor, Duke Law Journal
    • Justin Miller Award for Citizenship
  • B.S., summa cum laude, Vanderbilt University, 2005
Clerkships
  • Hon. Robert N. Chatigny, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 2012-2013
Admissions
  • Florida
  • New York
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Languages
  • Spanish, Fluent
  • French, Fluent