James Gilson

James D. Gilson has more than 30 years of diverse litigation experience with a problem solving focus. In addition to maintaining his litigation practice, Jim helps other litigants resolve their disputes as a mediator or arbitrator. Jim received formal mediator training at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in Malibu, California.

Jim is a shareholder and general counsel at Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar in Salt Lake City, and is sought after for his sound and experienced advice, and practical, fair approach to resolving disputes. Jim served as President of the Utah State Bar in 2014-15, and was a Utah Bar Commissioner from 2008-16. He served as President of the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in 2000-01, and received the Distinguished Service Award by the FBA’s Utah Chapter in 2014.

Jim has resolved hundreds of cases (representing plaintiffs and defendants) through mediation, arbitration, or trial in Utah’s state and federal courts, in a wide variety of areas, including:
• Business and contract disputes
• Partnership disputes
• Commercial leases
• Construction disputes
• Employment litigation
• Fiduciary claims
• Insurance (coverage, bad faith)
• Negligence
• Securities
• Real estate
• Trademark and copyright
• Banking
• Mortgage foreclosure
• Probate

Jim graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 1989, where he was an editor of the Utah Law Review. He was a judicial law clerk for U.S. District Judges J. Thomas Greene and Dee Benson, and also was a white collar criminal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s office.