Profile
James Gillenwater has represented clients such as Fortune 100 companies, world leaders, and Olympians in high-stakes international disputes, including trials and arbitrations. His wide-ranging litigation practice spans commercial and securities class actions, business disputes, intellectual property and professional sports work, and products liability cases. James has also handled complex white collar investigations and administrative challenges, securing OFAC delistings and INTERPOL red notice cancellations.
A former captain of the U.S. National Rugby Sevens Team, James brings the same discipline, determination, and team-oriented approach to advocating for his clients. James has first-chaired trials in both state and federal court, handled domestic and international arbitrations before various institutions—including the ICC, AAA, and JAMS—and argued in courts across the country, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
James’s international representations focus on Latin America, and have involved Argentina, Bolivia, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
Capabilities
Experience
- Won dismissal of a $75 million putative fraud class action on behalf of a U.K. digital payment company. See Law360, UK Payments Co. Escapes Claims It Aided $75M Forex Fraud.
- Obtained dismissal of an insurance class action seeking interest on property claims on behalf of a major insurance company. See Insurance Journal, Florida Insureds Can’t Force Interest on Late Claims Payments, Courts Say; Daily Business Review, Florida Judge Rules Against Class Action Trend Seeking Interest on Insurance Claims; Law360, Insurer Doesn't Have To Pay Irma Award Interest, Judge Says.
- Won dismissal of a federal securities fraud action against a national health care administration company. See Law360, “'Boilerplate' Mednax Stock Drop Suit Dismissed,” and “Mednax Wins Ax Of Investors' Securities Suit.”
- Secured dismissal of a consumer class action against an international resort operator on forum non conveniens. See Law360, “Suit Over Sandals' Fake Local Taxes Dismissed By Fla. Court.”
- Obtained dismissal of a federal securities fraud action against a major telecommunications company.°
- Achieved resolution of a federal consumer class action on behalf of a Fortune 100 retail company.
- Achieved resolution of a federal insurance class action on behalf of a Fortune 100 managed care company.
- Represent global eyewear retailer in federal false-advertising class action.
- Won dismissal and attorneys' fees in civil RICO and theft of trade secrets lawsuit filed by a former U.S. President on behalf of an American tech company. See Law360, Trump's RICO Suit Against Clinton Dismissed As 'Manifesto'; Law.com, Judge Trashes Trump's RICO Lawsuit Against Hillary Clinton, Perkins Coie; Law360, Judge Hits Trump, Atty with Nearly $1M in Sanctions.
- Represented a Chinese tech company in a two-week breach of contract trial, precluding the plaintiff from recovering more than 99% of the damages sought, for which James’s trial team was named the year’s most effective international litigators by the Daily Business Review. See also Law360, 11th Circ. Won't Touch Damages In Electronics Sale Suit.
- Represented the former president and defense minister of a Latin American country in a month-long federal trial.°
- Argued and won numerous dispositive motions on behalf of one of the world's largest transportation network companies.
- Obtained a seven-figure settlement in a federal breach of contract lawsuit on behalf of a Spanish agrochemical company.
- Achieved resolution of a multimillion-dollar nonpayment lawsuit on behalf of a blockchain development company.
- Achieved resolution of a multimillion-dollar AAA arbitration on behalf of a major global manufacturer.
- Represented multinational consumer electronics company in ICC arbitration over patent cross-licensing agreements.°
- Won dismissal of civil RICO and tort claims against a Latin American bank and its directors.°
- Achieved resolution of a series of mass tort cases for an international energy company.°
- Argued and won summary judgment on behalf of a Chinese circuit board manufacturer in a multimillion-dollar international trademark infringement lawsuit. See Shenzhen Kinwong Elec. Co. v. Kukreja, 574 F. Supp. 3d 1191, 1195 (S.D. Fla. 2021).
- Secured dismissal of international trademark infringement lawsuit brought by professional soccer team on behalf of a Miami-based global investment firm. See Greenberg Traurig Prevails for KRF Capital in International Sports Trademark Case.
- Achieved resolution of copyright infringement lawsuit involving dress designs on behalf of international fashion brand.
- Achieved resolution of trademark infringement lawsuit involving professional sports sponsorships on behalf of global beverage company and Miami-based brewery.
- Represented professional soccer and rugby teams and athletes in commercial litigation, antitrust actions, anti-doping cases, and disciplinary hearings before state and federal courts, judicial officers, and arbitral bodies, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- Secured suspension of INTERPOL Red Notice and release of client wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey in connection with the assassination of Haitian president. See Greenberg Traurig Secures Samir Handal’s Release from Turkish Prison and His Return to United States.
- Handled multiple international FCPA investigations for global media and communications companies.
- Navigated a DOJ Swiss bank investigation, ensuring the non-prosecution of a former executive.°
- Secured multiple OFAC sanctions delistings.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Gillenwater prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution - General Commercial Disputes, 2024
- Listed, Benchmark Litigation, "Future Star," 2025
- Listed, Benchmark Litigation, "40 & Under Hot List," 2022-2023; 2023-2024
- Listed, South Florida Business Journal, "40 Under 40," 2022
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Litigation - Securities, 2021-2022
- Listed, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, "Pro Bono Honor Roll," 2021
- Law360, “Legal Lion,” 2020
- Daily Business Review, member of "Most Effective," International Litigation team, 2019
- Law360, “Legal Lion,” 2018
- Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, 2015
- Vice-Chair Hiring Committee, Miami Office, 2020-Present
- World Rugby Judicial Panelist, 2017-2018
- Athlete Representative, United States Olympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council, 2010-2016
- United States National Rugby 7s Team
- Player, 2006-2009; Captain, 2009
- Co-Founder, United States Rugby Players Association, 2016
- Albert Schweitzer Fellow, Durham, North Carolina, 2010-2011
- Fulbright Scholar, English Teaching Assistant, La Universidad Nacional de la Pampa, Santa Rosa, Argentina, 2007
Credentials
-
J.D., magna cum laude, Duke University School of Law, 2012
- Order of the Coif
- Note Editor, Duke Law Journal
- Justin Miller Award for Citizenship
- B.S., summa cum laude, Vanderbilt University, 2005
- Hon. Robert N. Chatigny, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 2012-2013
- Florida
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Spanish, Fluent
- French, Fluent