James Kilroy, Partner at our Denver law office
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James Kilroy

Partner
Biography

Jim Kilroy is the managing partner of Snell & Wilmer’s Denver office and is a business trial and appellate lawyer with more than 30 years of experience handling jury trials, bench trials, arbitration matters, and appeals throughout the United States. Jim’s practice is diverse, involving cases in the areas of contracts, securities, corporate issues, officer and director liability, trade secrets, construction, professional liability, and employment. He has extensive experience in complex litigation proceedings, including class and collective action defense, multi-district litigation matters, and derivative and special litigation committee proceedings. In addition, Jim is an experienced appellate advocate. He has handled dozens of appeals in state and federal appellate courts.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado
  • District of Columbia


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Colorado
  • United States Supreme Court


Education

  • Tulane University (J.D., magna cum laude)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Articles Editor, Tulane Law Review
  • University of Wisconsin (B.A., History, with honors)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment Litigation (2015-2025); Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2020-2025); Bet-the-Company Litigation (2025)
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (2006-2024)
    • Colorado Top 100 (2013-2024)
  • Law Week Colorado, Barrister’s Choice Award, Best Overall Litigator (2018)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”), Member (2023)

Representative Experience

  • Defense of officers and directors in numerous securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits.
  • Representation of corporate entities and shareholders/members in corporate dissolutions, minority shareholder oppression matters and proxy fight disputes.
  • Representation of buyers and sellers in a variety of earn-out litigation matters.
  • Defense and prosecution of claims of breach of contract and license agreements.
  • Representation of parties in general unfair business practice, restrictive covenant and trade secret litigation matters.
  • Prosecution of trademark, trade dress and Lanham Act violations.
  • Defense of consumer protection and RICO class actions.
  • Representation of parties arising out of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.
  • Defense and prosecution of alter ego, successor liability and fraudulent transfer lawsuits.
  • Defense of defamation lawsuits, including matters with anti-SLAPP proceedings.
  • Representation of developers and EB-5 certified project managers in complex litigation matters.
  • Defense of employment claims, including allegations of discrimination, wage and hour violations and restrictive covenant proceedings.
  • Handling of appeals and related oral arguments in state and federal appellate courts throughout the United States.
  • Pro bono representation of indigent parties in a variety of matters, including international child custody.

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • American Bar Foundation
    • Colorado Fellows of American Bar Foundation
  • Hague Convention Attorney Network

Community Involvement

  • Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, Volunteer (2010-Present)
  • Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Past Board Member (2021-2022)
  • Irish Literary Society, Member (2023)

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • “Law firms strive to meet pro bono goals,” Quoted, Denver Business Journal (June 14, 2013)