Biography
Judge James L. ("Jim") Gale was appointed as a Special Superior Court Judge for Complex Business Cases and assigned to the North Carolina Business Court with chambers in the Elon Law School in Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 1, 2011, following Chief Business Court Judge Tennille's retirement.
Judge Gale received his undergraduate degree from Eckerd College and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He then served as law clerk to Hon. Franklin T. Dupree, Jr., United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, after which he joined Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, where he practiced for 35 years, at times resident in the firm's offices in Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina and Tampa, Florida. As a result, he was admitted to the State Bars of North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
While in practice, Judge Gale was active in various bar related groups, including the American Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, DRI, and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He remains active in the North Carolina Bar Association and is a council member for the Antitrust, Trade Regulation and Complex Business Section. He serves as an adjunct professor at the Elon University School of Law.
While in practice, Judge Gale received a number of professional honors, including Best Lawyers in America, Legal Elite, Top Lawyers for Bet the Company Litigation as published by Corporate Counsel, North Carolina Super Lawyer, and an AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the American College of Business Court Judges, a Master in the Guilford Inn of Court, and a fellow of The Litigation Council of America.