James McGehee is a trial-tested employment litigator who has tried more than two dozen cases to verdict in state and federal courts. His litigation experience extends to federal and state appeals.
James represents and advises employers across the full spectrum of employment law, bringing the same practical, problem-solver orientation to the boardroom that he brings to the courtroom. His practice covers discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and unfair competition claims, from early risk assessment through final resolution.
James focuses on litigating and advising clients on military discrimination and leave issues under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. He defends employers in DOL VETS and state attorney general investigations into military discrimination, litigates USERRA disputes nationwide, and advises employers on day-to-day military leave compliance.
At the forefront of a rapidly shifting legal landscape, James defends employers in major EEO investigations involving AI-driven employment decisions and diversity programs. He has also advised staff on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on employment policy. James conducts internal investigations, with a particular focus on clients in the defense contractor industry.
Before joining Littler, he served as a captain and judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force, advising senior military and civilian leadership in the Department of Defense on human resources matters and counseling the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center on the implementation of AI in the national defense sector. He also represented victims of sexual assault and serious crimes in courts-martial. Prior to the Air Force, James built a strong foundation in trial practice as a deputy district attorney in Colorado’s busiest judicial district. He began his legal career as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Walter Johnson in the Northern District of Georgia. In law school, he served as an articles editor of the Georgia Law Review.