James D. McGuire

James D. McGuire is an associate in the Orlando, Florida, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. James maintains a nationwide practice that is grounded in creativity, nuance, and a thoughtful perspective shaped by his diverse background and experience navigating high stakes matters. Clients value James’ commitment to approaching every matter with a tailored legal strategy meticulously designed to achieve results and keeping each organization’s long-term business goals and key stakeholders in mind.

James routinely defends large national employers in class action litigation and mass arbitrations involving the FLSA, WARN and RIF, as well as the Fair Credit Reporting Act. James’ experience also makes him particularly equipped to handle litigation and arbitrations involving the full array of issues that can arise from independent contractor relationships, as well as complex single and multi-plaintiff litigation under traditional federal, and state-specific, discrimination and retaliation statutes.

Though an experienced litigator, James also understands the toll litigation can take on a business, its leadership, and its workforce. He provides proactive advice and counsel to prevent and mitigate these risks. James has specific experience advising employers in the healthcare, transportation, and entertainment and media industries, as well as the public sector, which gives him a sophisticated understanding of the unique employment issues these organizations face.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, James served for more than two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joel B. Toomey of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. There, he was able to develop a deep understanding of how employment and business disputes are resolved through the judicial process, enabling him to develop unique strategies and frame even the most challenging legal arguments persuasively.

James' expertise as a practicing attorney is rooted in his intellectual curiosity and academic interest in the law. While in law school, James served as Executive Acquisitions Editor of the University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy and has published on topics related to regulatory and workplace law.

As a certified NAUI Divemaster, James enjoys spending his free time SCUBA diving and spearfishing, traveling with his wife, Bailey, and their dog, Luna, weightlifting, and running.