JAMES B. HIERS, JR., ESQ.
EDUCATION: Georgia State, Northwestern and Mercer Universities; A.B., Mercer University; Doctor of Law, Emory University (1958).
BAR ADMISSION: Georgia - 1956
LEGAL EMPLOYMENT & EXPERIENCE: Senior Partner, (now retired and Of Counsel), Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers - 65 lawyer firm which he helped found, one of Atlanta's oldest, (1965) - largest, (15th).
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: State Bar of Georgia, immediate Past Chair, Alternative Dispute Section), Past Chair, Workers Comp. Section); American Bar Association, (Past Vice Chair, Product Liability Committee and Past Vice Chair, Workers Comp. Committee, TIPS Section; Past President, Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel (an International Bar Association founded 1936); Past Chair, DRI Law Institute (putting on 27 C.L.E. Seminars per year); member American Board of Trial Attorneys, (ABOTA); member Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution; listed "Best Lawyers in America", "Who's Who in American Law"; A.V. Rating in Martindale-Hubbell.
MEDIATION/ARBITRATION TRAINING: Harvard Law School, 1993; Negotiation Course, Harvard Law School, (1989), plus many short day or week-end courses and seminars; conducted 5 seminars on ADR, (4, national); taught mediation, arbitration and negotiation in various states by talks, etc.
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CASES HANDLED: 225-250; also served as Special Master in U.S. District Court in lengthy U.C.C. Banking Law Case.
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE: Medical Malpractice; Product Liability; Personal Injury; Insurance Law; Workers Compensation; Labor & Employment; Business Law; Environmental; Construction; Consumer Law; Banking; Real Estate; Securities; Trust & Estates; Aviation; Admiralty; Intellectual Property; Entertainment/Sports