James J. Boland

James J. Boland focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration.

Jim has extensive experience and has represented a variety of corporations, businesses and professional firms in matters involving antitrust, securities fraud, accountant liability, consumer protection, shareholder and derivative disputes, mergers and acquisitions disputes, including post-closing disputes, reinsurance (life & health, property & casualty), and a variety of other commercial matters.

He also has extensive experience in class action litigation, representing corporations and businesses in matters involving antitrust, securities fraud, residential and commercial mortgage practices, false advertising, commercial leasing and other retail sales and marketing practices, and has experience in SEC and other governmental investigations.

Jim is an active member of the International Bar Association, where he is a member of the Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation, Insurance and LGBTQ+ Law Committees. Prior to joining Smith Gambrell & Russell (then Freeborn & Peters), Jim was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP focusing on commercial litigation and dispute resolution.

James received his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, cum laude, where he was a member of Order of the Coif.

James's Practice

Representative Matters

• Lead counsel for broiler chicken producer in antitrust price-fixing litigation against industry alleging conspiracies to fix prices, reduce supply, rig bids and exchange information.
• Represented merging party in FTC antitrust action seeking to enjoin merger of two major oil and gas companies.
• Represented Tier 1 domestic automotive supplier in a lawsuit against a Tier 2 foreign supplier related to a long-term international supply contracts with major foreign car manufacturer.
• Represented private equity firm, principals, and portfolio company in multiple arbitration and litigation proceedings relating to acquisition and restructuring activities.
• Represented major U.S. manufacturer in international arbitration relating to $1 billion sale of business to a German conglomerate.
• Advised a major foreign pharmaceutical manufacturer in connection with a dispute and potential LCIA arbitration concerning a worldwide co-marketing and promotion of blockbuster drug.
• Advised major domestic company on international arbitration and dispute resolution for worldwide joint venture agreement with South American corporation.
• Advised domestic manufacturer and distributors on international arbitration and dispute resolution for agreements with various Asian, African and Middle Eastern parties, including issues of validity, enforceability and application of Sharia law.
• Represented major foreign reinsurer in international arbitration involving dispute with retrocessionaire over restatement of retrocession.
• Represented domestic life & health reinsurer in dispute with cedent companies involving management of long-term care business.
• Represented major foreign reinsurer in defense of adverse arbitral award in the United States and Europe.
• Represented a major U.S. oil and gas company in False Claims Act case challenging over two decades of federal royalty payments for natural gas and natural gas liquids extracted from federally leased lands.
• Represented a fortune 500 manufacturer in mass tort class action relating to operations at an industrial drum reconditioning facility.
• Represented a major accounting firm in nationwide class action asserting pre-bankruptcy violations of federal securities laws.
• Represented a major international auditing firm in securities and common law fraud action brought by companies that sold businesses to audit client in exchange for stock.
• Represented a major manufacturer in nationwide consumer fraud, fraud and breach of contract class action involving sale of analog radios prior to conversion from analog to digital transmission service.