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Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & SmithDirector
James A. Prather
Pro

James A. Prather

4.7
5 reviews

701 Poydras Street, 40th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70139 + 1 location

Construction Litigation, Insurance Defense & Coverage, Product Liability and 6 more

About James A. Prather

With more than 30 years of experience, James Prather quickly evaluates a case, sees the end game, then develops a litigation strategy to achieve the desired outcome. Sometimes that means obtaining an early settlement; other times it requires taking the matter to trial. James has the experience and skills to do both, always aligning his strategy with his clients’ business goals.

James started his practice with a focus on property and casualty defense litigation and has grown his practice to include insurance coverage, construction defects, product liability defense, and defense of the transportation industry. He also works with clients to develop policy forms for commercial and personal lines policies. James represents insurers and their insureds in first- and third-party bodily injury and property claims.

James has devoted his practice to preserving business and insurance interests in Louisiana. He serves as General Counsel for the Louisiana Surplus Lines Association and has been honored by his colleagues in the bar and members of the bench with an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available to practicing attorneys. James has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America each year since 2019.

Awards & Recognitions

•The Best Lawyers in America - Construction Law, Insurance Law, Leisure and Hospitality Law, Litigation - Construction, 2026

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James A. Prather (New Orleans, Louisiana) View website

Awards

AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

James A. Prather got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for James A.

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Overall Rating
4.7
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5
Lawyers.com
Not yet reviewed
4.7
Martindale
5
Avvo
Not yet reviewed

Services

Areas of Law

  • Construction Law 1
    • Construction Litigation
  • Transportation
  • Other 7
    • Insurance Defense & Coverage
    • Product Liability
    • Real Estate & Property
    • Regulatory & Compliance
    • Trucking
    • Construction
    • Retail & Restaurant

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Director
    Firm Name
    Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Representative Matters: Helped uncover a fraud ring related to commercial trucking, which the media dubbed as 'Operation Sideswipe.' Our client was sued by three claimants seeking personal injury damages. All three had spine surgery
    dem
    ed more than two million dollars. We proved the accident was staged, ultimately resulting in federal criminal convictions of the plaintiffs
    their attorney for his role in the crime.
    Obtained a favorable ruling for a client, reducing a medical expense claim from more than $700,000 to $232,000 by exposing a medical funding scheme.
    Successfully litigated multiple wrongful death suits involving hunting accidents in several states, many resulting in defense verdicts.
  • Additional Links
    https://www.gallowaylawfirm.com

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1991, Louisiana
    All Louisiana Trial and Appellate Courts
    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
    U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
    U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
    U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    Memberships

    Associations

    •American Trucking Association
    •Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
    •Defense Research Institute
    •Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
    •Louisiana Bar Association
    •Louisiana Claims Association New Orleans and North Shore Chapters
    •Louisiana Surplus Lines Advisory Council
    •Louisiana Surplus Lines Association
    •Maritime Law Association of the United States
    •Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana
    •Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association, Legislative Affairs Committee

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana
    Class of 1990
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Northeast Louisiana University
    Class of 1986
    B.A.

Contact James A. Prather

Director at Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith
4.7
5 reviews

Hancock Whitney Center701 Poydras Street, 40th FloorNew Orleans, LA 70139U.S.A.

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Fax: (985) 674-6681

#3 Sanctuary Boulevard, Suite 301Mandeville, LA 70471U.S.A.

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Fax: (985) 674-6681
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Other Office Location

Mandeville, LA

#3 Sanctuary Boulevard, Suite 301Mandeville, LA 70471U.S.A.

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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    James A. Prather was admitted in 1991 to the State of Louisiana.
  • Is this attorney admitted to practice in any U.S. Federal Courts?
    James A. Prather is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith has 120 attorneys at this location.
  • Does this attorney maintain a practice in more than one location?
    Yes, James A. Prather has a presence in Mandeville, LA.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith was established in 1987.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

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