About James E. Gillenwater

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 practice spans commercial and securities class actions, business litigation, intellectual property disputes, 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.

Judicial Clerkships

•Hon. Robert N. Chatigny, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 2012-2013

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Dispute Resolution - General Commercial Disputes, 2024-2025
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Future Star,' 2025-2026
•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

 

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Services

Areas of Law

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation
  • Other 8
    • Trial Practice
    • Class Action Litigation
    • International Arbitration & Litigation
    • Intellectual Property Litigation
    • Securities Litigation
    • White Collar Defense & Investigations
    • Equine Industry Group
    • Complex Torts

Practice Details

  • Languages
    Spanish
    French
  • Payment Information
    Accepted Credit Cards
    American Express
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Shareholder
    Firm Name
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Experience: Class Actions
    Securities Litigation: 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,'
    '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 S
    als' 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.
    Achieved resolution of federal false-advertising class action on behalf of global eyewear retailer.
    Represent venture capital firm in class action alleging fraudulent inducement to purchase over $25 million in shares in a cannabis company
    recently argued
    defeated the sellers' motion to dismiss our client's state
    federal securities fraud claims.
    International Commercial Litigation: In a $3 billion global dispute, won motion to stay Florida litigation that overlapped with first-filed foreign proceedings based on principles of comity on behalf of the wife
    daughters of a deceased Russian billionaire.
    Won dismissal
    attorneys' fees in civil RICO
    theft of trade secrets lawsuit filed by a former U.S. President on behalf of an American tech company.
    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
    defense minister of a Latin American country in a month-long federal trial.
    Argued
    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
    tort claims against a Latin American bank
    its directors.
    Achieved resolution of a series of mass tort cases for an international energy company.
    Intellectual Property
    Sports Litigation: Won a multi-million dollar verdict following a month-long international trademark infringement
    counterfeiting trial on behalf of one of the world's largest circuit board manufacturers, also proving that the defendants committed fraud on the USPTO
    that the case was 'exceptional,' entitling our client to attorneys' fees. See Law.com, From a Vanishing Source to 200,000 Documents: How Greenberg Traurig Secured a Trademark Win
    Shenzhen Kinwong Elec. Co. v. Kukreja, No. 18-CV-61550, --- F. Supp. 3d ---, 2025 WL 1009008, (S.D. Fla. Apr. 4, 2025).
    Argued
    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 br
    .
    Achieved resolution of trademark infringement lawsuit involving professional sports sponsorships on behalf of global beverage company
    Miami-based brewery.
    Represented professional soccer
    rugby teams
    athletes in commercial litigation, antitrust actions, anti-doping cases,
    disciplinary hearings before state
    federal courts, judicial officers,
    arbitral bodies, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
    White Collar Defense & Investigations: Secured suspension of INTERPOL Red Notice
    release of client wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey in connection with the assassination of Haitian president. See Greenberg Traurig Secures Samir H
    al's Release from Turkish Prison
    His Return to United States .
    H
    led multiple international FCPA investigations for global media
    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 h
    led by Mr. Gillenwater prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
  • Additional Links

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    Florida
    New York
    District of Columbia
    U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    Memberships

    Professional & Community Involvement

    •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

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Duke University School of Law
    Class of 2012
    J.D.
    Magna Cum Laude; Order of the Coif; Note Editor, Duke Law Journal; Justin Miller Award for Citizenship
    Other Education
    Vanderbilt University
    Class of 2005
    B.S.
    Summa Cum Laude
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Attorneys FAQs

  • Does this attorney speak any other languages?
    James E. Gillenwater speaks Spanish and French.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP has 2750 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    James E. Gillenwater attended Duke University School of Law.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Greenberg Traurig, LLP was established in 1967.