James P. McElheny

Areas of Practice:

Personal Injury Litigation
Insurance Coverage & Risk Management
Tax Assessment & Condemnation
Insurance Defense

Education:

Syracuse University Law School, J.D.
State University of New York at Brockport, B.A.

Phone:

585-987-2818

Fax:

585-987-2918

Email:

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Status:

At a Glance:

James P. McElheny is Managing Partner of Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, where he is also a member of the firm's Litigation Department. He concentrates his practice in personal injury and product liability defense, insurance coverage and risk management issues and condemnation.

Mr. McElheny received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Syracuse University and his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Brockport.

Representative Matters:

• Represents major national and regional corporations, school districts, charitable organizations, universities, municipalities, insurance carriers and individuals across New York State in state and federal court, arbitrations and mediations.

• Represented a major university in wrestling, hockey, weightlifting and other personal injury cases.

• Represented a national camping organization in a lightening strike case that left an infant with permanent catastrophic injuries.

• Represented a school district in a quadriplegic case that resulted from a high school basketball game.

• Represented a Fortune 500 company on race sponsorship issues in a case that involved two fatal bicycle motor vehicle accidents.

Community Involvement:

Mr. McElheny is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Seneca Park Zoo Society and is active, both locally and nationally, in the Boy Scouts of America organization, and with Business organizations in Penfield and Webster. He is also a member of the Monroe County Bar Association Foundation and the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, Inc.

Bar Admissions:

Mr. McElheny is admitted to practice in the State of New York.

Professional Affiliations:

Mr. McElheny is a member of the New York State and Monroe County Bar Associations, and is also a member of the Defense Trial Lawyers Association of Greater Rochester, Inc. He is a frequent lecturer on personal injury and insurance law topics.

Other:

Mr. McElheny was named the 2010 Nathanial Award Winner by the Daily Record Newspaper.  This award is given to a member of the legal community who goes above and beyond the call of duty in the name of justice.  He is also the recipient of the 2008 New York State Bar Association's Empire Counsel Award in recognition of outstanding achievement of free legal services to the poor and underprivileged. He is listed in the current editon of the "Best Lawyers in America."