James M.Sullivan

On the transactional side, James acts as outside general counsel to some of his clients, guiding such clients on a host of corporate and transactional matters. James also regularly counsels investors in acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, distressed assets, real estate, and other assets. In addition, he frequently represents borrowers and lenders in matters involving corporate and acquisition financing. Many of James’ clients are based outside the United States, and he regularly guides them on issues relating to doing business in the United States.

In addition, James regularly assists his clients with a range of litigation matters, having started his career as a commercial litigator and having clerked for a federal district court judge and a state chancery judge. James regularly appears in federal and state courts throughout the United States, and has first-chaired numerous trials, appeals, arbitrations, and mediations. James has acted as a court-appointed mediator and has an excellent track record of helping parties reach a consensual resolution of complex legal disputes.

James also stays abreast of legal issues involving new technologies, including advising clients on matters relating to virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. James was an Official Observer on the Drafting Committee formed by the Uniform Law Commission and The American Law Institute to prepare amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code to accommodate emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technology, and virtual currency, culminating in amendments that included new Article 12, which were approved and recommended for enactment in all the states in 2022. James is a regular speaker on such issues and has presented on such topics both nationally and internationally.

James is rated AV Preeminent in his field by Martindale-Hubbell. James has also been honored as one of New York’s Top Lawyers by New York Law Journal (ALM Global LLC, 2019). He is described by his clients as “a smart lawyer who understands business issues and is always on his clients' side.”

Prior to joining Seyfarth, James was a partner at several large national law firms.

He regularly authors articles and lectures on numerous topics concerning bankruptcy, including purchasing assets out of bankruptcy and the interplay between bankruptcy and cryptocurrency. He is an experienced pilot who enjoys skiing, mountain climbing, and scuba diving.