James L. Windsor
Member • Chair of Real Estate Claims & Title Insurance Solutions • Co-Chair of Government & Municipal Law
Office: Newport News, Virginia Beach
Admissions: Virginia
Biography
Jim has over 36 years of experience in real estate, title insurance and civil litigation and is an AV® Preeminent rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a dedicated, zealous and strong advocate for his clients. He is the Chairman of the firm’s Real Estate Claims & Title Insurance Solutions Group and his practice includes a broad range of counseling, negotiation, mediation and civil litigation, with an emphasis on real estate, title insurance, mechanic’s liens/construction, local government, legal malpractice defense and creditor’s rights. He was selected by peers and recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2018-2021 in the area of Real Estate. In addition, Jim is currently working with a team of K&C lawyers representing numerous Virginia localities with respect to claims against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and others connected with the opioid addiction epidemic, as a continuation of his long track record of representation of local governments in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Recognition & Honors
- AV® Preeminent; Martindale-Hubbell
- Top Rated Lawyer in Construction Law; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2018
- Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate, 2018-2022
- Virginia Super Lawyers, Real Estate; Law & Politics, 2006, 2010-2018, 2020-2021
- Top Lawyer; CoVaBIZ, 2017-2021
- Virginia’s Legal Elite, Construction Law; Virginia Business Magazine, 2007–2014, 2016-2020
- Distinguished Service Award; Virginia Land Title Association, 2015-2016
- Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2013, 2018-2019
- Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation Law; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2018
- Virginia’s Legal Elite, Real Estate and Construction Law; Virginia Business Magazine, 2003–2004
- Phi Delta Phi; President, 1984
- Moot Court Board, 1984–1985
- The Order of Barristers
Associations
- Virginia State Bar; Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Conference, 1991-1994
- Virginia State Bar; 7th Circuit Representative, Young Lawyers Conference, 1989-1991
- Virginia State Bar; Board of Governors, Construction Law and Public Contracts Section, 1998-2001
- Virginia State Bar
- Virginia Land Title Association
- Virginia Beach Bar Association
- Christopher Newport University, School of Business and Economics; Dean’s Advisory Board, 1989-1990
- The Salvation Army of the Virginia Peninsula; Advisory Board, 1989-2000
- Coliseum Hampton Rotary Club, 1988-1996; Board of Directors, 1988-1990
- Peninsula Rotary Club, 1996-1998
- Leadership Institute of the Virginia Peninsula, 1991
- United Way of the Virginia Peninsula; Fund Raising Campaign Chairman, Newport News Attorneys’ Division, 1993
- United Way of the Virginia Peninsula; Fund Raising Campaign Chairman, Peninsula Attorneys’ Division, 1994
- Leadership Institute of the Virginia Peninsula; Program Chairman, State Government Day, 1994-1997
- Future of Hampton Roads, Inc.; Board of Directors, 1994-1997
- Virginia Peninsula Economic Development Council; Board of Directors, 1994-1997
- Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, 1997-1999
- Sarah Bonwell Hudgins Foundation; Board of Trustees, 2005-2008
Education
- James Madison University; B.S., cum laude, 1982
- University of Richmond School of Law; J.D., 1985
Press & Publications
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2022, 4 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Strict Construction of Instruments of Conveyance for Easements, Wavell v. Lengel
- 19 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 3 Named as Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2021
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2021 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2020
- 46 Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2021”, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 7 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 18 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2020 and 4 Named As Rising Stars 2020
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent U.S. District Court of Virginia, Western Division Case Regarding in rem Rights Under a Deed of Trust By a Lender
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Opinion by the Supreme Court of Virginia Affirming Circuit Court Decision on Subordination Agreements, Rule of Partial Subordination, and Related Issues of Lien Priority
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named CoVaBIZ Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2020
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2019
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Opinion by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Relating to Lien Stripping Where Real Property is Held as Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2020 and 3 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Virginia Court Holds that the Two-Year Statute of Limitations for Fraud Applies to Claims of Forgery
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Virginia Federal Court Case Regarding Underwriting Agreement Between Title Insurance Underwriter and Issuing Agent
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2018
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2019 in CoVaBiz Magazine
- 43 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2019” and 8 Named “Lawyers of the Year”
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Supreme Court of Virginia Clarifies that Property Lines Are Presumed to Run to the Center of a Road When the Deed Describes the Property as Being “Bounded By” a Road
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers and 5 Named As Rising Stars 2018
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Fairfax Circuit Court Letter Opinion Relating to Motions Craving Oyer
- 31 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2017/18 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 46 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2018
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2017 and 5 Named as Rising Stars 2017
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2017
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2016
- 32 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2016 and 4 Named as Rising Stars 2016
- Court Clarifies Coverage for Mechanics’ Liens Arising from Failed Construction Projects
- 32 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2015 and 7 Named as Rising Stars 2015
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2014
- Title Insurance Client Alert – New Statute and Statutory Amendments to Virginia Real Estate Law
- Title Insurance Client Alert – New Favorable Virginia Equitable Subrogation Decision
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2013
- 29 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2013 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2013
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Virginia Federal District Court Rejects Equitable Subrogation Claim
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Case: Lis Pendens Filed within 90 days is Avoidable under 11 U.S.C. § 547
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2012
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2012 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2012
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2011
- 36 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2011 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2011
- Mechanics’ Liens: Selected Issues for Real Estate Lawyers
- 39 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2010
- 31 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 11 Named as Rising Stars 2010