James Schurz is co-chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Group. He represents clients in federal and state courts in complex civil actions, and in actions for breach of contract and business torts, including unfair competition, fraud, trade libel, products liability, and joint venture/distributor termination.
Mr. Schurz has served as trial counsel in both jury and bench trials, appearing extensively in courts throughout Northern California, and, in particular, San Francisco Superior Court, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California, and the California Courts of Appeal.
Mr. Schurz also has experience with many of the world's leading arbitration forums, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the American Arbitration Association, and UNCITRAL. He has handled arbitrations involving intellectual property, securities, distribution contracts, fuel contracts, joint ventures, and the development of infrastructure projects. He also has experience litigating the enforceability of arbitration clauses in federal and state courts.
Mr. Schurz currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco and on the Board of Directors of Search for the Cause. He is also an adjunct professor of law at Hastings College of Law, teaching courses on international commercial arbitration, negotiation, and settlement. In 2008, he received the NCLR's Justice Award and the California Lawyer's Angel Award for his pro bono work on Gammett v. Idaho State Board of Corrections.