James R. Forbes

Jim Forbes is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has been working exclusively for almost 30 years, on helping businesses and individuals resolve disputes as reasonably and economically as possible. 

Understanding that litigation is often unpleasant and expensive, Jim makes every effort to reach an early resolution by settlement on terms beneficial to the client.  He takes into consideration the cost of litigation and the effect litigation has on the lives of individuals and businesses. If a reasonable early settlement is not obtainable, Jim prepares the case for trial.  He has successfully tried cases, and even more frequently has reached a successful resolution through summary judgement motions.  At every step in the litigation process, the client is kept informed and allowed to make strategic decisions. 

Jim was previously a partner in a large national law firm, and while at that firm he served as lead counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants in cases worth hundred of millions of dollars.  Jim has represented banks against fraud allegations, a Fortune 15 computer manufacturer in a toxic tort action, insurers and insureds in complex insurance coverage matters, a major league baseball player in a contract dispute, and other diverse clients in a wide variety of matters. 

Most recently, Jim served as lead litigator with a north bay law firm from 2007 to 2015.  Jim devoted a significant amount of his practice to resolving trusts and estate disputes as the head of the Estate Litigation Group.  Representing both fiduciaries and beneficiaries, Jim has resolved numerous trust and estate disputes through mediation, and has also tried cases and handled appeals of trust matters.  When handling a trust and estate dispute, Jim is well respected and has the enormous support and benefit of the Reynolds Law, LLP estate planning group.