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 39 years of experience in a broad range of counseling, negotiation, mediation, and civil litigation focused on real estate, title insurance, mechanic’s liens/construction, local government, legal malpractice defense, and creditor’s rights.
Jim is an AV® Preeminent rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, a dedicated, zealous, and strong advocate for his clients, and is the Chairman of the firm’s Real Estate Claims & Title Insurance Solutions Group. He has been selected by peers and recognized by Best Lawyers in America from 2018-2024 in the area of Real Estate, and in Litigation- Construction in 2023, and has received many recognitions and honors including being listed in Virginia Business Magazine, CoVaBiz Magazine, and Virginia Super Lawyers. In 2024 Jim received the Traver Scholar Award from the Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar and in 2015 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Land Title Association.
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.
Jim has maintained a very active litigation practice involving primarily real estate and construction matters for over 39 years and has been involved in numerous reported or published cases, JLW Case Summaries (1985-2024).
Recognition & Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Construction, 2022-2025
- Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate, 2018-2025
- Traver Scholar Award; Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar, 2024
- Top Lawyer; CoVaBIZ, 2017-2025
- Virginia Super Lawyers, Real Estate; Law & Politics, 2006, 2010-2018, 2020-2024
- Virginia’s Legal Elite, Construction Law; Virginia Business Magazine, 2007–2014, 2016-2024
- Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2022
- Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2013, 2018-2019
- Top Rated Lawyer in Construction Law; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2018
- Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation Law; The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2018
- Distinguished Service Award; Virginia Land Title Association, 2015-2016
- Virginia’s Legal Elite, Real Estate and Construction Law; Virginia Business Magazine, 2003–2004
- Phi Delta Phi; President, 1984
- Moot Court Board, 1984–1985
- AV® Preeminent; Martindale-Hubbell
- The Order of Barristers
Associations
- Phi Delta Phi; President, 1984-1985
- Moot Court Board, 1984–1985
- AV® Preeminent; Martindale-Hubbell
- The Order of Barristers
- Virginia State Bar
- 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; Co-Chair, Real Estate Programs Committee, 2023-present
- 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
Education
- James Madison University; B.S., cum laude, 1982
- University of Richmond School of Law; J.D., 1985
Press & Publications
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Court of Appeals of Virginia Enforces “Ryder” Easement
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Va. Ct. of Appeals Holds Grant of “Right of Way” Conveys Fee Simple, Not Easement
- Equitable Subrogation in Virginia: The Sequel
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Virginia Court of Appeals Affirms Injunction to Remove Objects from Granted Easement Area
- 36 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2025 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 51 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2024
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Court of Appeals of Virginia Holds “Right of Way” Not Expressly Released in a Deed Releasing “Easements” is Still in Effect
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2025, 7 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 13 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Supreme Court of Virginia Strictly Construed a Restrictive Covenant to Hold That the Plain Meaning of the Term “Modified” Does Not Permit the Addition of a New Restrictive Covenant
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Court of Appeals of Virginia Holds Plaintiff Who Did Not Seek Reimbursement in its Partition Complaint
- 15 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 5 Named as Rising Stars 2024
- James L. Windsor Named 2024 Recipient of the Traver Award
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Court of Appeals of Virginia Holds Proof of the Physical Location of an Easement is a Necessary Element of an Implied Easement
- 36 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2024 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- Title Insurance Client Alert – New Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinion Regarding Key Requirements To Prove, And Rebut, The Existence Of An Easement By Prescription
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2023
- Title Insurance Client Alert – November 2023 – Recent Virginia Court of Appeals Opinion Holds Title Defect Alone is Insufficient to Plead Actual or Constructive Eviction
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2024, 6 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 10 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Recent Virginia Court of Appeals Opinion Holds Statutes of Limitations Do Not Apply Where Only Equitable Relief is Sought
- Title Insurance Client Alert – June 12, 2023
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinion Regarding Meaning of Exclusivity Required for Claims of Adverse Possession
- 16 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers and 4 Named as Virginia Rising Stars 2023
- Virginia Real Estate Case Alert – Closing Funds Wired to Fraudster’s Account Covered by Insurance
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Recent Virginia Circuit Court Opinion Regarding Duties of Servient Tract Owners of an Easement
- 44 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2023 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- Legal Access to Private Cemeteries in Virginia
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2022
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers In America© 2023, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 17 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 3 Named as Rising Stars in Virginia Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2022
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Supreme Court of Virginia Holds Restrictive Covenant Unenforceable
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Fourth Circuit Rejects Borrower’s Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim Against Deed of Trust Trustee. Tayal v. Bank of NY Mellon, Case No. 20-1790
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Virginia Circuit Court Issues Recent Opinion on Permissible Parking on an Easement on a Subdivision Road
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2022 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Easement Holder Is Necessary and Indispensable Party to Riparian Boundary Suit
- 52 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2021
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Virginia Circuit Court Issues Recent Opinion on Adverse Possession
- Title Insurance Client Alert – Lis Pendens Only Entitled to Absolute Privilege in Defense of Defamation Torts, Holds Supreme Court of Virginia
- 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