With more than 20 years of experience in financial services law, Jim Lane joined Flaherty in 2013 as Senior Counsel. Jim’s focus is bankruptcy, creditors’ rights matters, business transactions and business-related disputes.

“In my world, every legal matter is a problem to be solved. Some problems require a lawyer to bear down and fight it out. Some problems are disputes that require creativity, and other disputes have easy, common sense resolutions. I am skilled at figuring out the best way to solve each unique problem.”

Jim represents creditors, debtors, owners, DIP lenders, creditor committees and asset purchasers in bankruptcy court – and he is engaged and skilled at out of court workouts and restructurings, negotiating workout forbearance agreements and helping creditors enforce their rights under contractual and state law.

In addition to financial services, Jim has vast experience in commercial transactions, real estate title work, real estate disputes and commercial litigation. He also assists and advises creditors in the collection of consumer loans.

Outside of work, Jim’s wife and two daughters are the highlights of his life. He’s a golf and squash enthusiast, an heirloom vegetable gardener, coach of the Capital High School boys tennis team, member of the City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals, and Director of Edgewood Country Club.

Practice Concentrations

• Bankruptcy
• Creditors rights
• Commercial and real estate transactions and litigation

Education

• J.D., Washington and Lee School of Law (1992)
• B.A., Washington and Jefferson College (1986)

Bar Admissions

• West Virginia

Court Admissions

• United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
• United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
• United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
• United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
• Supreme Court of Virginia

Reported Cases

• Rebuild America, Inc. v. Davis, 229 W.Va. 86; 726 S.E.2d 396 (2012)
• Dwyer v. First National Bank (In re OBrien), 414 B.R. 92 (S.D.W.Va. 2011)
• Hardwood Group v. LaRocco, 219 W.Va. 56; 631 S.E.2d 614 (2006)
• Retail Designs, Inc. v. W.Va. Div. of Highways, 213 W.Va. 494; 583 S.E.2d 449 (2003)
• Walker v. Star USA Federal Credit Union (In re Walker), 299 B.R. 141 (S.D.W.Va. 2003)
• Bowling v. Lawson, 122 F.Supp.2d 693 (S.D.W.Va. 2000)

Written Work

• Is Your Bank Ready for a Visit from Jesse James and the Gang?, West Virginia Banker Magazine Spring 2019

Community Involvement

• Member, Board of Zoning Appeals for the City of Charleston
• Director, Edgewood Country Club
• Volunteer and Former Director, Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council
• Coach, Capital High School Boys Tennis Team

Awards & Honors

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2016 – Present
  • 2017 – Lawyer of the Year – Charleston, WV – Litigation – Real Estate