James Cone (“Jim”) is a trial lawyer with experience in more than 30 jury cases tried to verdict.  He is a member of the product liability and mass torts practice group focusing on the trial of high-stakes products liability matters.  Jim has an incredibly broad and diverse background that includes nearly two years spent as Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Head of Litigation for W.W. Grainger, Inc., a Fortune 250 distributorship. 

In his role as Head of Litigation for Grainger, Jim oversaw a team responsible for the management of a large and diverse portfolio of cases including class actions, product liability matters, employment law cases, intellectual property cases and commercial litigation. He further served as lead investigative counsel for Grainger and advised Grainger's Ethics and Compliance office on government investigations and internal investigations involving alleged violations of company policy.

Jim's trial experience includes serving as a first chair trial counsel on behalf of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a de-certified class of product liability cases in the State of Florida.  He has served in the role of second chair trial counsel on behalf of R.J. Reynolds for nearly eight years.  He is also heavily involved in the management and defense of these cases as National Coordinating Counsel.

Jim is a U.S. Army Veteran, completed U.S. Army Airborne and Air Assault training, and has interned in the Pentagon.  Jim’s legal career began as a Captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.  One of his first assignments was as a Command Judge Advocate (military prosecutor).  While in the Army, Jim also gained experience with government contract law and regularly advised on solicitations, contract awards, fiscal law, source selections and bid protests.

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