Shareholder James L. Cresswell, Jr.*

James Cresswell is the co-leader of the Aviation, Trucking, and Logistics practice areas.  His practice includes aviation, trucking liability, logistics liability, products liability, premises liability, governmental tort liability, sports and recreation liability, employment law, and coverage disputes.  He is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Kentucky state courts.  He is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuit and the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi, Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Arkansas, and Western District of Arkansas.

James graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2003 from Mississippi State University.  He graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of law in 2006.  After law school, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, and the Mississippi Court of Appeals.

He has published numerous articles regarding aviation law for national publications.  He has been selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list in the areas of Aviation & Aerospace since 2023 and previously to the Rising Stars list since 2014. James was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 in the field of Litigation-Insurance. The Aircraft Owners ad Pilots Association has also selected him to serve on its attorney panel. He is also a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association Amicus Committee.

He lives in Dyersburg, Tennessee, with his wife Amy and his daughter Catherine and son James.  When not working or spending time with Amy, Catherine, and James, he enjoys flying airplanes, spending time outdoors, serving as the Chairman of the Board for the New Life Union Mission, and serving as an Elder at the Dyersburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church.


Best Lawyers Award Badge

  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, 2018
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2007
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2007
  • Trial and Appellate Courts in TN, MS, AR, KY
  • The Mississippi Bar
  • Memphis Bar Association
  • Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
  • Claims Litigation Management
  • Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
  • Lawyers-Pilots Bar Association
  • Named Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in Aviation and Aerospace, 2014-2021
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2022-2023
  • Judicial clerkship: Hinds County Circuit Court; Jackson, MS, August 2006-July 2007
  • Judicial clerkship: Mississippi Court of Appeals; Jackson, MS, August 2007-July 2008
  • On the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's Attorney Panel
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 in the field of Litigation-Insurance
  • Presentation regarding airport litigation, Southern Methodist University Air Law Symposium
  • Articles related to aviation law, Southern Methodist University Journal of Air Law & Commerce
  • The Southern Methodist University Journal of Air Law and Commerce, "Applying the Discretionary Function Exception to the Waiver of Sovereign Immunity in Airport Litigation."
  • The Drake Journal of Agriculture Law, "The Time Has Come to Reconsider the Issue of Liability in Aerial Application Cases."
  • The Tennessee Bar Journal, "Who Owns the Airspace? Issues Increase as Drones Fill Tennessee's Skies."
  • DePaul University’s Issues in Aviation Law and Policy, “The Touhy Doctrine and its Adverse Impact on Aviation Litigation.”
  • The Tennessee Bar Journal, Jan./Feb. 2023, Vol.59, No.1 "Multiple Choice: Many Factors Can Apply in Choice-of-Law Decisions"

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