James A. DeLanis concentrates his practice in business litigation, including contract disputes, banking and commercial paper, unfair competition, trade secrets, intellectual property, Tennessee tax and administrative litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Featured Experience

Represented a bank on its fidelity bond claim.

Represented the applicant for a license to operate a pay-day lender business in a contested administrative hearing.

Defended against a class action suit brought under the Tennessee Antitrust and Consumer Protection Act.

Professional Biography

Overview

Mr. DeLanis has more than 35 years of experience resolving business disputes by litigation, arbitration or mediation. Before joining Baker Donelson in 1981, he served as a judicial clerk and as a Tennessee Assistant Attorney General.

Representative Matters

Represented a bank on its fidelity bond claim.
Represented the applicant for a license to operate a pay-day lender business in a contested administrative hearing.
Represented clients in protecting their trademark rights.
Defended against a class action suit brought under the Tennessee Antitrust and Consumer Protection Act.
Advised clients on non-compete agreements.
Successfully appealed a complex property tax dispute involving an infrequently enforced intangible personal property tax levied against a Tennessee historical association. Presented arguments to an Administrative Law Judge and then made oral arguments on appeal to the Assessment Appeals Commission.
Successfully represented a non-profit organization in Tennessee in an investigation by the Tennessee Secretary of State. Representation included coordinating with the client's public policy firm and its in-house lobbyists, overseeing extensive document production and negotiation over the scope of that production, research into and interpretation of a little used statutory scheme, as well as coordination of the political aspects of the investigation. At the end of the investigation, the client was exonerated.

Professional Honors & Activities

Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006 (Business Litigation)
Named to Best Lawyers in America® in Intellectual Property Litigation (2016 – 2019) and Commercial Litigation (2019)
Member – Executive Committee of Intellectual Property Section of Tennessee Bar Association (2006, 2007)
Member – American (Member, Sections on Antitrust; Business Regulation; Intellectual Property; Litigation; Public Contract Law), Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 1995
Member – Dartmouth Lawyers Association
Former President – Middle Tennessee Dartmouth Alumni Association
Fellow – Nashville Bar Foundation
Chair – 2012 Campaign for Legal Aid Society and Pro Bono Program of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands
Former Chair – Nashville Bar Association Circuit, Chancery and Federal Court Committees
Former President – Nashville Pro Bono Program
Former President, Secretary and Chair of Building Committee and Current Member of the Board – Nashville Humane Association
Chairman – Davidson County Election Commission (2016 – present); Member (2012 – present)
Former Business Manager – Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law
Former YMCA YCap Middle Tennessee Academic Tutor of the Year
Handball and Tennis Player

Publications

"What Happens if You Wait Too Long to File Your Patent Case?" (September 2015)
"Tennessee Courts Limit Banks' Liability for Failing to Inspect Construction Project Before Disbursing Funds," Tennessee Banker (November 2012)

Speaking Engagements