1201 West Peachtree St. NW
Suite 610
Atlanta GA 30309
TEL: (470) 867-3041
FAX: (612) 336-9100
jchin@zellelaw.com
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Practice Areas
- Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Liability
- Breach of Contract
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction
- Contingency Insurance
- Cyber Risk and Losses
- eDiscovery
- Engineering and Construction
- General Liability Coverage and Defense
- Insurance
- Pandemic Claims and Litigation
- Products Liability
- Property Insurance
- Reinsurance
- Subrogation
Bar and Court Admissions
- State Court: Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia
- Georgia Supreme Court
- Georgia Court of Appeals
Education
- University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., 1993
- The University of Georgia, B.B.A., cum laude, 1988
Past Professional Experience
- Partner, Carlton Fields, Atlanta Office (2016-2019)
- Founding Partner, Clyde & Co. US LLP, Atlanta Office (2013-2016)
- Partner, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP (1994-1998, 2001-2013)
- Student Affairs Legal Advisor, University of Georgia (1998-2001)
James V. Chin
James Chin is a civil litigator with nearly 30 years of experience representing many of the world's largest commercial property insurers and liability insurers in complex disputes. He assists clients in preventing, mitigating, and managing exposure through effective management of risk and claims and has tried cases to verdict.
James advises insurers on a broad range of matters, including complex coverage disputes, claims handling, insurance fraud, subrogation, catastrophic losses, and allegations of statutory violations and bad faith. He has served as lead counsel in numerous cases with multimillion-dollar exposures across a variety of sectors, from construction and engineering to energy, industrial manufacturing, mining, hospitality and food processing.
James is also experienced in the appraisal process and represents clients in insurance appraisals.
He is a frequent presenter to various industry groups and regularly conducts in-house seminars for clients.
Representative Matters
Lead attorney obtaining summary judgment and sanctions award dismissing on the merits a $38 million business loss claim in the S.D. of West Virginia. Case involved metals manufacturing operation claim of insurance fraud and significant, contentious discovery disputes involving complex, international and e-discovery issues.
Lead attorney in defense of $4 million coverage dispute and bad faith suit in the N.D. of Georgia involving alleged vandalism claim.
Lead attorney in defense of $4 million appraisal award and bad faith claim in the S.D. of Georgia. Case involved claim of insurance fraud and significant sanction award against policyholder.
Defeated $11 million claim on summary judgment in case involving interpretation of contract covering builder's risk policy. Claim involved mold in a luxury condominium complex in South Florida. Affirmed by the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Defeated $12 million claim on summary judgment in a dispute involving loss of hospital supplies in Tennessee. Trial court's decision affirmed on appeal.
Lead attorney obtaining resolution of $6 million dispute involving damage to frozen food products in North Carolina.
Lead attorney obtaining resolution of $7 million dispute involving damage to building façade.
Lead attorney representing panel of insurers that led to the successful resolution of $30 million coal mining claim.
Recovered $1 million on behalf of a subrogation client in claim arising out of contractor's failure to properly deliver and install a loom at a textile plant in South Carolina.
Recovered $6 million subrogation claim arising out of poultry processing plant roof collapse due to defective renovation.
Co-lead defense/analysis of a 9/11 claim in excess of $75 million by World Trade Center tenant against consortium of insurers.
Articles & Presentations
“Measuring Business Income Losses: Emerging Issues”, PLRB Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo, March 21-22, 2023, panelist
"Time Element Measurement Issues - Coronavirus," Zelle Webinar, April 14, 2020, co-presenter
"CAT Loss - Commercial Property Coverage Issues," Zelle CAT-Law Webinar Week, July 22, 2019, co-presenter
"Emerging Issues – Assignment of Benefits," Reinsurance Association of America Claims Conference, New York, October 13, 2017, presenter
"Indemnity v. Insurance: What Remedy Prevails?", 25th Annual ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, February 24, 2017, presenter
Property Loss Research Bureau Annual Claims Conference, 2005-Present, presenter
Professional Affiliations
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Member
Noteworthy
James was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for 2021 and 2022.