About James
James E. Butler Jr. is a founding partner of Butler Prather LLP and a nationally recognized civil trial attorney with more than four decades of courtroom experience. Since beginning his legal career in 1977, he has represented clients in complex litigation across numerous states, with a practice focused on personal injury, product liability, auto defects, business torts, class actions, and whistleblower claims. He has served as lead counsel in ten cases resulting in verdicts exceeding $100 million, including a $1.7 billion verdict against Ford in 2022 and a $2.5 billion verdict in another Ford Super Duty roof-crush case in 2025.
Jim has achieved record-setting verdicts in several states and has set the record for the largest verdict in Georgia six separate times in different areas of civil litigation. His work has included catastrophic injury and product liability cases, major business disputes, False Claims Act matters, and complex class actions. In addition to his substantial trial record, he has served as lead counsel in hundreds of settled cases and has secured significant recoveries for clients through both verdicts and negotiated resolutions.
Throughout his career, Jim has received numerous professional honors, including the State Bar of Georgia's Tradition of Excellence Award and the American Board of Trial Advocates Civil Justice Award. He has been recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers every year since 2004 and holds certification as a Civil Trial Advocate through the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Beyond his courtroom practice, Jim has contributed extensively to legal education, conservation, veterans' services, and charitable organizations. His long-standing commitment to advocacy and public service has made him one of Georgia's prominent trial lawyers.
