James M. Burgess

A staunch advocate for his clients, Jim Burgess provides judicious legal representation that emphasizes intellectual rigor, compassion, personalized attention and meticulous focus, as well as an unrelenting work ethic. Mr. Burgess has deep experience handling and providing advice on complex legal and business disputes particularly in the areas of insurance, healthcare, entertainment, intellectual property, manufacturing and distribution, class actions, mass torts, and real estate, among others.  Mr. Burgess has represented and advised a wide variety plaintiffs and defendants, who have ranged from billionaires to indigent individuals, as well as Fortune 100, middle market, and small retail companies. 

Mr. Burgess now provides ADR services full-time as an arbitrator and mediator through Burgess Dispute Solutions, and is on the complex commercial, healthcare and consumer panels for the American Arbitration Association.  Mr. Burgess also is a panel mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court and for the US District Court for the Central District of California.  

Mr. Burgess completed his undergraduate studies in 1984, graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and political science from Claremont McKenna College – where he also served as the editor of the Claremont Journal of Philosophy and received the Philosophy Department Award. He attended the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he graduated Order of the Coif. He received his Juris Doctor in 1990, and obtained his license to practice law in California the same year.  Mr. Burgess also is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, before all U.S. District Courts in California and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the DC Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Burgess is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School, and was a member of the Board and President of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.  Mr. Burgess has received numerous awards, including being rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, the Wiley W. Manual Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services by The State Bar of California, as well as two awards for outstanding community service.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.