James H. Gilliam

(Retired)

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  • Partner

Location:

Des Moines, Iowa

Fax:

515-279-2072

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Jim has practiced primarily in labor and employment litigation for over 30 years, representing clients in cases involving discrimination and wrongful termination, covenants not to compete, unemployment compensation, wage and hour litigation and workers' compensation. He continues to handle cases before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. Jim has also negotiated collective bargaining agreements in both the public and private sector.

Jim speaks extensively in workshops and seminars for human resources professionals, and in workshops and seminars held by various employers to educate employees. Jim is also a mediator for the Polk County Mediation Program. He is a member and SPHR certified by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Jim is also a member of the National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP). Jim has been selected as a leader in Iowa for inclusion in Chambers USA® in the area of labor and employment law, selected for inclusion in the SuperLawyers® listing in the area of employment and labor law, and The Best Lawyers in America. Jim is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Before forming Long & Gilliam, an association of sole practitioners, with Scott Long, in April, 2013, Jim was an associate and member of the Brown Winick firm in Des Moines for 25 years, where he served as the chairman of the firm’s Employment Practice committee. Jim received his B.A. degree from the University of Iowa in 1977 and his J.D. degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa in 1980. Jim served on active duty as a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1980 to 1984. Upon his return to Iowa, Jim was general counsel to the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board from 1984 to 1988. Jim was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1980; and the United States District Courts, for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa in 1988

Areas Of Practice

  • Labor & Employment 60%
  • Civil Rights/Discrimination 20%
  • Workers' Compensation 15%
  • Structured Settlement Transfers 5%

Bar Admissions

  • Iowa, 1980
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa, 1988
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa, 1988
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1981
  • U.S. Federal Courts, 1983

Education

  • University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa
    • J.D. - 1980
    • Honors: With Distinction
  • University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
    • B.A. - 1977
    • Honors: With Honors

Honors And Awards

  • Best Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers

Professional Associations And Memberships

  • Society of Human Resource Management
  • Iowa State Bar Association, Labor Law Section, Member
  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member, State Labor Law Developments Committee, 1989

Past Employment Positions

  • BrownWinick, Partner, 1988 to 2013
  • Iowa Public Employment Relations Board, General Counsel, 1984 to 1988
  • U.S. Army, Captain, JAGC, 1980 to 1984