Jim Towery is a member of the firm of Rossi, Hamerslough, Reischl & Chuck in San Jose, CA., where he specializes in civil litigation, real estate litigation, and professional responsibility. Jim has been handling civil litigation matters in Santa Clara County for over 35 years, focusing on professional responsibility matters and complex business litigation. He has represented a broad range of lawyers and law firms, health care professionals, and public entities in defending claims of professional negligence and ethical issues. Jim is recognized by his peers as an outstanding trial lawyer, as demonstrated by his election to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He has also been selected as a Northern California SuperLawyer for professional liability from 2006-2010.
Jim previously served as Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California, a position he held from 2010-2011. As Chief Trial Counsel, Jim was in charge of the California attorney disciplinary system, where he was responsible for several national innovations in prosecuting disciplinary offenses. He previously served as President of the State Bar of California, President of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, chair of the California Discipline Committee, and chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection. He served as a member of the Chief Justice's Task Force on Multidisciplinary Practice, which led to the adoption of several Rules of Court pertaining to MJP issues. Jim also served as Chair of the State Bar of California Task Force of Insurance Disclosure, which proposed a rule of professional conduct on that issue, resulting in the California Supreme Court's adoption of Rule of Professional Conduct 3-410, effective in 2010.
Jim has been a member of the adjunct faculties of Santa Clara University School of Law (2006-present) and Lincoln Law School-San Jose (2002-2010). Jim has been a frequent lecturer in MCLE class on matters pertaining to professional responsibility, attorneys' fees, and civil practice. Jim is a graduate of Princeton University and Emory University School of Law.