James W. White

Jim White joined Jones Hawkins & Farmer in October 2011 and has broad experience in public service and private law practice. He served as Executive Director of the Fiscal Review Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly from 2003 until October, 2011. This position, with its responsibility for estimating costs of legislation, revenue collections for the state of Tennessee, and oversight of executive branch agencies, is often described as one of the most influential in state government. Nationally, he served as Staff Chairman of the Budgets and Revenue Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures from 2008-2009. He also served as counsel to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly from 2001-2003, and as counsel to the General Assembly’s House Finance, Ways and Means Committee from 2000-2003. He has a unique knowledge of drafting and interpreting legislation, the fiscal impact of legislation, and the myriad complex issues, legal and budgetary, that arise in the law-making process. Prior to his work with the General Assembly, he was a member of the firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis in Nashville from 1986-1999 where he developed a practice emphasizing complex civil litigation. His cases included substantial securities litigation, franchising, contract and business disputes, professional licensure proceedings, partnership dissolutions, non-competition agreements, and other matters. From 1980-1986, he served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Albert Gore, Jr. His responsibilities included tax and health legislation, and he worked extensively with Senator Gore on investigations through the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

Education:

B.A., University of Tennessee, College Scholars (emphasis in Political Science) (with highest honors) (1980);J.D., Georgetown University Law Center magna cum laude) (1986) (Editor, Georgetown Law Journal, (1986)).

Honors and Memberships:

Master of the Bench, Harry Phillips American Inn of Court (Nashville, Tennessee); Captain, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary (search and rescue mission pilot); Angel Flight pilot; Nashville Symphony Chorus (tenor section leader 2007-2009); Advisory Council to the Nashville Symphony (2008-present); Tying Nashville Together (member of the Board 1999-2000).

Admissions:

Member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court, the Tennessee Supreme Court, the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.