James Hartmann Smith

James Smith is an associate in the New York office of McKool Smith.  Prior to joining the firm he was an associate at Shearman & Sterling.  He has a broad-based litigation experience in general commercial matters.  During law school James served as a legal intern at Legal Services New York, Bronx, New York.  Prior to attending law school he was an intern at the Indiana Legal Services in Bloomington, Indiana.

Representative Matters

Freddie Mac Counsel to Freddie Mac in litigation and discovery matters in connection with the bankruptcy of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp., which was the largest independent mortgage lender in the United States. Matters include an insurance coverage action against Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London and London Market Insurance Companies.

Oil Producers Litigation  Counsel to more than 80 independent Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas oil producers in lawsuits against Goldman Sachs subsidiary J. Aron & Company and a BP subsidiary arising out of a major midstream energy transporter’s bankruptcy.  Previously represented a post-confirmation representative for litigation matters and claims objections. 

Toll Brothers Counsel to Toll Brothers and five other national home builders in a case brought by Wachovia Bank, N.A. in the Southern District of New York. The suit alleges that the home builders breached completion guaranties that were executed in connection with a 1,700 acre tract of property that was purchased from the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management for more than $500 million in 2005.

Prior to joining McKool Smith:

Syngenta  Counsel to Syngenta in a civil lawsuit for Sherman Antitrust Act violations.  The suit alleged that Monsanto monopolized the U.S. market for genetically modified corn seeds.