James B. Cole

Partner

James B. Cole, a partner in the firm since merging with it in 2004, focuses his private client practice on transactional matters and litigation related to business, real property and serious bodily injury. In addition to buy/sell agreements, land purchase agreements, leases and other contract matters, Mr. Cole is instrumental in the formation and maintenance of corporate and LLC entities for his clients.

Mr. Cole's litigation experience includes the representation of private business clients and insurance carrier appointed clients. He has extensive trial experience in the areas of real property, breach of contract, premises liability, construction defect, business, employer defense and serious personal injury.

Mr. Cole began serving as a Judge Pro Tem and arbitrator on behalf of the Santa Barbara Superior Court in the mid 1990's and is currently serving in those same capacities for the Ventura County Superior Court. He is regularly retained as a private mediator, due to respect from both sides of the Bar. He frequently speaks at the request of the Oxnard Police Department in their Crime Free Program to owners and management firms of residential properties. He is often asked to be a guest lecturer at college real property classes. He has been the featured speaker in several real property seminars, as well as a panel speaker in construction defect seminars. He heads the construction defect unit of the firm.

Honors/Memberships/Service

Judge Pro Tem Ventura County Superior Court
Association of Southern California Defense Counsel – Ventura County Director
AV Rated Attorney Martindale Hubbell
Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association

Published Cases

Mr. Cole was successful in defeating a wrongful death claim against owners of an apartment complex at the pleading stage which resulted in a published decision.Medina v. Hillshore Partners (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 477.

Personal

In his spare time Mr. Cole enjoys hiking, music, boxing and red wine.