James A. Underwood

Sr. Associate He/Him

Overview

James (“Jim”) Underwood is a litigation attorney in the Washington practice group. Jim joined Reinisch Wilson in October 2025.

Jim is a skilled business attorney, problem-solver, litigator, and former professional arbitrator, mediator, and Judge with proven experience successfully managing a wide-range of legal matters effectively and efficiently with strategic focus, commitment, professionalism, and ethics.

Jim has been a practicing attorney since 2004, with his most recent practice as the in-house general Corporate Counsel for a Pacific Northwest regional non-profit corporation doing work in the energy efficiency field. During his legal career, Jim has also operated his own law firms, worked in private practice at other law firms, and worked in public practice environments in the business, regulatory, and litigation fields. Jim clerked for the Honorable Kip W. Leonard in the juvenile department of the Lane County, Oregon, Circuit Court following law school and prior to entering his practice as an attorney.

I enjoy providing thoughtful, personalized, strategic, and efficient legal counsel to provide exceptional client service. My goal is to help clients maximize legal positions and minimize risk throughout the dispute resolution and litigation process.. Good client service means I will always work hard, diligently, communicate effectively, and understand each client’s needs to help serve their best interests in a professional, proactive, and effective manner. Good client service always means providing thoughtful, kind, and good customer service in all aspects of representation.

  • Oregon Chapter Member, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), 2021 – 2024
  • Commissioner, Clackamas County Arbitration Commission, 2019 – 2022
  • Board Member, Disciplinary Board, Region 4, 2018 – 2021
  • Delegate, House of Delegates, Region 4, 2017 – 2020
  • Member, Washington County Oregon Bar Association, 2012 – 2022
  • Mentor Volunteer, Lawyer-to-Lawyer Program, 2013 – Present
  • Member, PLF/LPRC, Region 4, 2012
  • Member, Oregon State Bar
  • Member, Washington State Bar Association
  • Bar Section Memberships (past and present): Litigation, Business Law, Business Litigation, ADR, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Debtor-Creditor, Environmental and Natural Resource Law, Energy Law, and Sustainable Futures
  • U.S. Army ROTC, Boot-Camp Leadership Scholarship, 1995
  • Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, 1990 – 1993

Jim loves skiing, boxing, hiking, and backpacking, having completed both the 100-mile Wonderland Trail and the 223-mile John Muir Trail. He’s also an avid live-music fan, reader, photographer, and proud dog parent, as well as a novice guitar player. Jim enjoys spending time and traveling with friends and family.