James F. Sanders joined Neal & Harwell in 1978 and is one of the firm’s senior members. He has handled legal matters and tried cases throughout the United States for national and international clients and is generally recognized as one of the leading corporate defense attorneys in the country. His clients include individuals and several Fortune 500 companies. He is among a select group in the legal profession to whom corporations often turn when faced with serious, complex litigation, requiring lengthy trial schedules.

Mr. Sanders was a law clerk for The Honorable Judge William E. Miller of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for The Honorable Judge Frank Gray, Jr., Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. From 1975 through 1977, he served as a trial attorney in the felony section of the Seattle–King County, Washington, Public Defender’s Office.

Mr. Sanders graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1967 and the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1970. He has lectured at the Vanderbilt University School of Law and has served on several study committees by appointment of the Vanderbilt University chancellor.

Notable Clients

Exxon Pipeline Company
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Exxon Chemical Company
General Motors
Ingram Industries, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc.
Corrections Corporation of America
Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America
Kubota Tractor Corporation
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Pilot Travel Centers
SPX Corporation

Notable Cases

Defense of John Landis in the Twilight Zone trial
Defense of Exxon in the Exxon Valdez criminal and civil proceedings