
Profile
James Peacock is an experienced trial lawyer with a health care practice focused on false claims act cases, government investigations, civil investigative demands and health care related litigation. He also handles matters related to employment, breach of contract, managed care payment disputes, and regulatory disputes. Outside of the litigation setting, he advises clients regarding a wide variety of matters including internal investigations and compliance. His clients include large hospital systems, physician practices, physician groups, individual physicians, pharmacy benefit managers, and health care insurance companies.
James is a former federal prosecutor who served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, he investigated and prosecuted entities and individuals for a variety of criminal activity, with a particular emphasis on cases involving white collar crime and health care fraud including mail fraud, wire fraud, false claims act violations, social security fraud, and money laundering.
Previously, James served as general counsel of claims, litigation, and risk prevention at Baylor Scott & White Health, where he oversaw legal enterprise efforts related to the investigation and handling of claims, management and direction of outside counsel in litigation, and root cause analysis of adverse and sentinel events.
Capabilities
Experience
- Department of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Texas United States Attorney’s Office, 2009-2014
- Baylor Scott & White Health, 2014-2022
- Vice President – General Counsel of Claims, Litigation and Risk Prevention, 2019-2022
- Vice President Assistant General Counsel, 2014-2019
- Legal Counsel, CHRISTUS Health, 1997-2002
- Mediation Training, A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center, University of Houston Law Center Blakely Advocacy Institute, 2007
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America
- Health Care Law, 2025-2026
- Litigation - Health Care, 2025-2026
- Member, American Bar Association, 2019-Present
- Member, Health Law Section, 2019-Present
- Vice Chair, Distance Learning Committee, 2025-Present
- Chair, Healthcare Facility Operations, 2023-2025
- Vice Chair, Litigation and Risk Management Interest Group, 2020-2022
- Member, Health Law Section, 2019-Present
- Member, Plano/Denton Heart Hospital Board of Managers, 2015-2019
Credentials
- LL.M., Litigation Management, Baylor University School of Law
- J.D., Baylor University School of Law
- BSN, Nursing, McNeese State University
- Texas
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit