James K. Holder is a Partner in the San Francisco office of GRSM where he represents corporations and individuals in a broad range of complex business litigation, including product liability, mass torts, professional liability, commercial litigation, personal injury, elder abuse, and breach of contract disputes. James has a particular emphasis in complex commercial litigation representing multi-national corporations involved in the sales, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. James’s practice also focuses on the defense of law firms, attorneys, insurance agents and brokers and fiduciaries against malpractice, breach fiduciary duty, negligence and elder abuse allegations. James has also handled environmental and toxic tort litigation. He has achieved successful results for a wide range of clients in both State and Federal jurisdictions throughout the United States.
James earned his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law where he served as an Editor of the Santa Clara Law Review. While in law school James also competed for Santa Clara Law in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, earning an award for Best Brief, which was re-published in the Pace Environmental Law Review.
James obtained his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, where he played first baseman and designated hitter on the Golden Bears’ NCAA Division I varsity baseball team earning three varsity letters and appearing in over 150 games.
Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Courts, California
Memberships
- State Bar of California
- Defense Research Institute
- Current Chair, Membership Orientation, Drug & Medical Device Committee
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), Trial Academy
- Bar Association of San Francisco
- Past Chair, Barristers Club – Litigation Section
Community Involvement
James is actively involved in service to the community as a member of the Board of Directors of The Guardsmen, a San Francisco non-profit organization which provides access to high quality education and outdoor activities for Bay Area inner-city youth. James has also previously served as the organization’s General Counsel and as co-chair of The Guardsmen Celebrity Dinner & Sports Auction in partnership with the San Francisco Giants Community Fund.
James is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Cal Baseball Foundation, a non-profit organization which was responsible for successfully securing reinstatement of the intercollegiate baseball program at the University of California, Berkeley after its elimination in 2010, and which is now dedicated to ensuring the permanent existence the baseball program.