Attorneys

JIM HALEY

Jim Haley currently focuses his practice on insurance lawsuit litigation and counsel, and administrative law practice before federal, state and local governmental entities. 
Jim has been practicing law for more than thirty years.  He has acquired extensive experience in a variety of practice areas, including insurance coverage and claims, commercial litigation, administrative law, contract procurement and negotiation for complex construction projects, public utility law, environmental law, and alternative dispute resolution.

Representative Experience

  • Served as lawsuit defense counsel to a Texas insurance association, and successfully handled a large litigation docket, providing representation and counsel on a variety of significant  issues, including concurrent causation, appraisal, immunity, unadhered shingles, overhead & profit, post-litigation bad faith
  • Represented insurance company client in various administrative appeals and enforcement actions before a state regulatory agency
  • Advised clients regarding insurance coverage issues, market conduct regulatory requirements, and licensing regulations applicable to property and casualty insurance companies, life and health insurance companies, and HMOs
  • Litigated complex and lengthy administrative hearings on applications for hazardous waste incinerator and underground injection well permits
  • Represented municipalities on quality of service, revenue requirement and rate-setting issues applicable to telephone, electric, and natural gas utilities in regulatory proceedings before the Texas Public Utility Commission and the Texas Railroad Commission
  • Advised a governmental highway department regarding coordination with the Federal Highway Administration to obtain tolling agreements and Special Experiment Program approvals pursuant to federal SAFETEA-LU
  • Negotiated various inter-governmental memoranda of understanding involving local, state and federal agencies 
  • Drafted and negotiated procurement and contract documents for billion-dollar public private partnership projects for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of state highways and toll roads using innovative delivery methodologies (concessions, design-build agreements, availability payments)
  • Advised and represented various clients regarding general administrative law issues such as Open Records Act and Open Meetings Act compliance, and procedures for promulgation and adoption of governmental regulations and ordinances
  • Provided expert witness advice and testimony on environmental issues in civil court cases
  • Mediated a variety of commercial litigation matters

Qualifications

  • State Bar of Texas (admitted 1979) [Section memberships – Litigation, Insurance Law, Construction Law, Administrative and Public Law, Environmental and Natural Resources, Public Utility Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution]
  • Member, Texas Association of Defense Counsel
  • Member, Austin Bar Association
  • State of Texas Qualified Mediator (August, 1997)

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 1979) (American Jurisprudence Award for Oral Advocacy)
  • University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., cum laude, 1975)

Professional and Community Activities

  • Former member, Water and Wastewater Commission, City of Austin, Texas
  • Current Board member, Interfaith Action of Central Texas (formerly known as Austin Area Interreligious Ministries)
  • Football and Basketball Coach, St. Theresa Catholic Middle School, Austin, Texas