Bio

James C. Morris (“Jay”) is a Partner in the St. Louis office of Gordon & Rees. Mr. Morris is an experienced litigator who has successfully defended individuals and businesses against a wide array of liability claims, including construction defect, insurance coverage, professional liability, products liability, consumer rights defense, employment, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, cargo loss and maritime/admiralty. Through smart, detailed investigation and preparation, coupled with efficient, systematic and proactive discovery, Mr. Morris often is able to establish negotiating leverage and push his clients’ cases toward favorable resolution. If the matter cannot be resolved, Mr. Morris has successfully tried more than twenty cases to verdict in both state and federal courts. He prepares every case as if it will be tried. In this connection, Mr. Morris was recognized by the Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2015 for having secured one of the largest defense verdicts in the State of Missouri. Mr. Morris also has considerable transactional experience, and he regularly counsels employers and business clients regarding legal considerations and trends in the law. As a former business owner and executive, Mr. Morris brings the wisdom of lessons learned firsthand to provide his clients with practical advice when addressing difficult situations. Mr. Morris is rated AV Preeminent, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards by the Martindale Hubbell peer review system.