Biography
James O’Brien joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 1980 and is a partner in the firm. James’ 40 plus years of civil litigation experience includes commercial corporate litigation and intellectual property litigation. James has been the lead counsel in a number of large business and intellectual property cases. His experience also includes commercial litigation and representation of plaintiffs in personal injury cases, defense work for insurance carriers and individuals and corporations. James has successfully prosecuted and defended numerous lawsuits in the areas of intellectual property, business litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and medical malpractice.
James is a member of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association , and is a former chair of the General Practice Section and was a member of its Executive Committee for a number of years, representing the Sixth Judicial District. James is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the Broome County Bar Association, and the New York Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors of the Union Volunteer Emergency Squad, Inc.
Education
- Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York
- J.D. - 1980
- Honors: magna cum laude
- State University of New York, College of Oswego
- B.A. - 1977
- Honors: magna cum laude
Certified Legal Specialties
Classes & Seminars
Pro-Bono Activities
- Union Volunteer Emergency Squad (Board of Directors 1997– 2025) and is also a lifetime member
Representative Clients
Bar Admissions
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Western District of New York
Honors
- Named, Best Lawyers in America©, 2023 and 2025, Lawyer of the Year in Binghamton, New York for Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants
- Listed, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers in America©, 2012 – 2025, for Work in Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Life Member Designation/Award from Union Volunteer Emergency Squad, 2010
- Appreciation Award from the Southern Tier Zoological Society, Inc.
- Justinian Society (Member)
- Moot Court Board (Member)
Ancillary Businesses
References
Past Positions
Professional Associations
- New York State Bar Association (Member)
- Broome County Bar Association (Member)
- Young Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association, 1982 to 1992, Chair 1990-1991
- Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section (NYSBA) (Member)
- Executive Committee, General Practice Section representing the 6th JD of NYS (Former Member)
- New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Union Volunteer Emergency Squad from 1997 to 2025 and also is a lifetime member
Practice Areas
- Litigation