James F. Clayborne, Jr., Partner

Practice Focus and Client Representations

James Clayborne has a broad-based litigation practice that includes an emphasis on matters involving municipal law, product liability, commercial litigation, personal injury, and class actions.

His commercial litigation clients have included such major corporations as Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association, ND, The Good Year Tire & Rubber Company, Hooters of America and Darden Restaurants, Inc. Mr. Clayborne served as corporate counsel for the City of East St. Louis for 24 years.

Professional Background

From 1995 – 2018 Mr. Clayborne served as an Illinois State Senator for the 57th District. He was Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate for the last nine years. He served in a leadership role for over 23 years; in this capacity he has significant experience in public service, community engagement, and creating social and economic justice in underserved communities. He has been a leading advocate in the State of Illinois leading the charge on transformational legislation on inclusion and diversity in utilization of minorities in professional services such as financial services, insurance, legal, engineering, accounting, and IT.

His extensive public service career also includes a number of positions from 1988 to 1990 with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office (Assistant State’s Attorney, Child Support, Misdemeanor Supervisor, Juvenile Supervisor, Felony Probation Revocation Supervisor, and Felony Prosecutor), an internship with the Dade County State’s Attorney’s Office, and a judicial clerkship with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. He also served a judicial clerkship with the Legal Service of Eastern Missouri.

Mr. Clayborne is the recipient of the Legislative Excellence Award from the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois. He was awarded the Regional Commerce and Growth Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Statesman Award in 2005, 2006 and again in 2007. Mr. Clayborne has been rated by Martindale-Hubbell for ethics and legal ability.

Mr. Clayborne was extremely active in the Illinois Bar Association (Young Lawyers Division, 1991-1996, Under 35 Delegate to the ABA, 1992, Board of Governors, 1995-1996), including service on a variety of task forces and committees (Ad Hoc Committee on Membership from Large Firms, Ad Hoc Committee on Mandatory Legal Education, Administrative Law Council, Mineral Law Committee, State and Local Tax Law Section and Task Force on Governance for the New Century). His other professional affiliations include the National Bar Foundation (National Task Force Illinois State Bar), the East St. Louis Bar Association, the St. Clair County Bar Association (Board of Directors, 1991-93), the Metro East Bar Association (Vice Chair, Young Lawyers Division), and the Advisory Group for Civil Justice Reform Act Southern District of Illinois.

Community Service Activities

Areas of Practice

Class Action Litigation
Insurance Defense
Products Liability Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Utility Regulation
Governmental Consulting
Diversity Consulting
Bond Financing/TIF
Hemp Litigation