cjames@cowlesthompson.com
- Dallas
- T: 214.672.2000
- F: 214.672.2315
Claire James is a Shareholder in the Plano office of Cowles & Thompson, and practices in the firm’s Commercial/Business Litigation, Family Law, and Appellate sections. In her commercial litigation practice, Claire focuses on representing small businesses and their owners. She regularly represents clients in disputes involving business dissolutions, breach of contract actions, collection matters, landlord-tenant issues, and construction litigation. Claire also has experience representing clients in arbitration, having defended multiple businesses in complex contract arbitrations. About fifty-percent of Claire’s practice is devoted to family law, including divorce, division of property, child custody, child support, and post-divorce modification as well as enforcement and contempt actions, and issues related to same-sex marriage and relationship dissolution. Claire is skilled at walking her clients through the family court process with a mixture of compassion and tenacity. As a former Child Protective Services Worker, Claire is uniquely well-suited to cases involving child safety issues, family violence, and other disputed custody matters. She practices throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, including Collin, Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton counties. Claire lives in Richardson with her son, daughter, and dogs.
- J.D., cum laude, Southern Methodist University, 2012
- B.S., Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005
- State Bar of Texas, 2012
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Texas
Representative Matters: - Drafted successful Motion for Summary Judgment that was granted in favor of commercial landlord client and later upheld on appeal (2016)
- Obtained Summary Judgment in favor of business client defending against insurance company in which the court initially granted default judgment in favor of the insurance company (2016)
- Secured temporary restraining order and, ultimately, primary possession of child for father in case involving child safety (2016)
- Represented client in child custody dispute related to same-sex relationship dissolution in which client was given primary possession of children (2015)
- Drafted appellate briefing for anonymous blogger in successful mandamus proceeding before the Texas Supreme Court (In re Doe a/k/a “Trooper”, 444 S.W.3d 603 (Tex. 2014)) (2013)
- Represented father in successfully dissolving Temporary Restraining Order and obtaining final order giving client primary possession of children in disputed child custody case involving child safety allegations (2013)
- Texas Bar Association (Family Law & Litigation Sections)
- Dallas Bar Association (Family Law & Litigation Sections)
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
- Teen Court, mentor, Wylie, Texas
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SMU Law Review Association, Articles Editor, 2010-2012 -
SMU Dean’s Scholarship Recipient, 2009-2012 -
Best Brief Nominee, 2009
“How Cheating Affects Divorce,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Jan. 2019
“Six Pre-Divorce Resolutions,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Jan 2018
“Possible Outcomes of the November 29 CPS Hearing Regarding the Sister of Sherin Mathews,” Cowles &
Thompson Newsletter, Nov. 2017
“No More Unhappy Holidays? Child Custody Basics,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Nov. 2017
“Residential Landlord and Tenant Duties After Hurricane Harvey,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Sept. 2017
“The ABCs for Back-To-School Co-Parenting,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Aug. 2017
“Ninth Court of Appeals Rules Presumption of Parenthood Does Not Apply to Same-Sex Married Couples,” Cowles
& Thompson Newsletter, May 2017
“’Alimony’ is Strictly Limited by the Texas Family Code,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Dec. 2016
“Fort Worth Court of Appeals Considers Parental Rights of Sperm Donor,” Reverse & Render blog, Dec. 12, 2016
“The Intersection of the Anonymous Right to Free Speech, The Texas Citizens Participation Act, and Rule 202
Pre-Suit Discovery,” Reverse & Render, Oct. 25, 2016
“Show Me the Money – Divorce and Constructive Fraud in Texas,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Oct. 20,
2016
“Texas Anti-SLAPP Commercial Speech Exemption Does Not Apply to Blogger’s Statements about Wedding
Photographer,” Reverse & Render blog, Aug. 22, 2016
“Protecting Your Business from Divorce,” Cowles & Thompson Newsletter, Dec. 2015
Writer in Residence for Ms. JD, 2015
“Internet Torts: What are the Limits of Personal Jurisdiction?” Dallas Bar Association Headnotes, Aug. 2015
“Attorney Speech, What Lawyers Can and Can’t Say; Handling Bar Grievances and Other Disciplinary Actions;
Confidentiality, Loyalty, and the Attorney-Client Privilege,” materials for National Business Institute CLE, Dec. 31,
2012
“Tax Exempt Organizations from Start to Finish,” papers and materials for National Business Institute
presentation, materials for National Business Institute CLE, 2011
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