Jim Swartz

As a member of the Firm’s Employment Law Section, Jim Swartz represents clients in employment, civil rights, and public accommodations cases, including matters brought pursuant to Titles II and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Prior to joining the Firm in 2005, Jim represented clients in general litigation matters at an international law firm for five years. His cases there included construction disputes, breach of contract claims, trade secret misappropriations, Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuits, and fraud cases.

Jim is licensed to practice in Georgia and Florida, and has practiced in state and federal courts throughout the country. He has argued motions and appeals in state and federal courts, including the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jim received his Bachelor of Arts in 1996 from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the Hesburgh Program of Public Service and the Notre Dame rowing team. He graduated in 1999 from the Notre Dame Law School where he was the Symposium Editor for the Journal of College and University Law. During law school, Jim represented clients through the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic in domestic disputes, bankruptcies, and claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair Debt Collection Act.

Jim and his wife, Mary, have four young children, Molly, Andy, Katie and Tommy. They spend a good deal of time and energy keeping their old house in Grant Park from falling apart. During the fall, the Swartzes root for the Fighting Irish and usually travel to a few football games in South Bend. Jim enjoys cooking and barbecuing, fishing, and snow skiing, but most of all enjoys doing whatever his kids want to do—usually visiting Zoo Atlanta or the Georgia Aquarium, hitting the playground at the park, or playing in the back yard.

Representative Experience

  • Obtained summary judgment on all claims and secured award of costs on behalf of laundering and uniform service in ADEA action.
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice and award of costs on behalf of sanitation and maintenance chemical company in Texas state law age discrimination lawsuit.
  • Argued Eleventh Circuit appeal concerning enforceability of arbitration agreement in an employment contract.
  • Arbitrated and obtained substantial award on behalf of plaintiff for violations of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Title VII.
  • Represented national restaurant chain in race discrimination lawsuit brought by the EEOC in Northern District of Illinois.
  • Represented national restaurant chain in public accommodations lawsuit brought by more than twenty plaintiffs, including the NAACP.
  • Successfully represented steel producer in multi-million dollar warranty case against industrial equipment manufacturer arising from the construction of new steel minimill.
  • Represented national credit reporting agency against lawsuits filed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act by consumers in the Southeast.
  • Other examples of representations include: local arts center in connection with condemnation action, lawn services company on trade secret misappropriation claim, major telecom services company in connection with construction dispute, counseling various clients on complying with third-party discovery and document retention issues, defense of former officers and directors in state and federal securities fraud an common law fraud claims.

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Georgia
  • The Florida Bar
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • United States District Courts for the Northern District of Georgia
  • United States District Courts for the Middle District of Georgia
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • American Bar Association