Stay in Touch
James M. McGraw
Of Counsel
McGraw, James M.
Contact
Houston

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our founding partners, Jim McGraw. Jim’s vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence helped build not just a firm, but a legacy that will continue for generations to come. Affectionately known as “the Professor” among his colleagues, Jim's brilliant legal mind, exceptional research skills and ability to find creative solutions to complex challenges made him an invaluable mentor to countless attorneys across the firm. While we mourn his loss, we celebrate a life well-lived and honor his memory by carrying forward the values and principles he instilled in all of us.

Thank you, Jim, for showing us the way.

James M. McGraw
January 9, 1950 – November 3, 2024

Click here to read a press release and here to view a video tribute. 

Representative Experience
  • The successful representation of a Defendant in its defense of a $20 million breach of contract and business tort claim. After a week of trial the case settled with no recovery for the Plaintiff.
  • The successful representation of a Defendant in its federal court defense of a complex Uniform Commercial Code claim arising from a $5 million oil trade.
  • The successful defense of an oil company in a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to recover clean up costs associated with an oil spill upon the navigable waters of the United States.
  • The successful representation of two members of a joint venture in their suit against their joint venture partner for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
  • The successful representation of a group of companies, as plaintiffs, involving claims arising from an offshore pipeline rupture in the Gulf of Mexico. In connection with that lawsuit, also defended the plaintiff companies in a third-party action which claimed in excess of $10 million as a result of the rupture. The plaintiff companies successfully avoided liability, recovered all of the damages sought and avoided any liability on the third party action.
  • The successful representation of a plaintiff in a complex anti-trust case involving the pharmaceutical industry.
  • The successful representation of a pipeline company in the defense of claims related to a pipeline explosion as well as the recovery of a significant judgment from third-parties and insurance companies.
Thought Leadership / News
September 9, 2015 
 In the News
Gray Reed & McGraw Celebrates 30-Year Anniversary
With J. Cary Gray, James M. McGraw, James L. Reed, Jr.
July 2, 2014 
 Press Releases
Gray Reed Founding Partner Jim McGraw Certified as an A. A. White Mediator
January 3, 2012 
 Press Releases
Jim McGraw Wins Appeal Affirming Dismissal of Real Property Claim for Waste Management of Texas, Inc.
March 22, 2010 
 Press Releases
Gray Reed & McGraw Wins Jury Verdict that Exonerates Landlord
November 20, 2009 
 Press Releases
Gray Reed & McGraw Successfully Negotiates Settlement Between Medical Properties Trust and Stealth, L.P.
Honors
  • Named a "Super Lawyer" by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters company) as published in Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazine (2006 – 2017)
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodward/White, Inc.'s The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Health Care Law (2013 – 2018)
  • AV Preeminent® rated (the highest possible Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating designation)
Organizational Involvement
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Certified Mediator, A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center, University of Houston Law Center
Education
  • University of Houston Law Center, Adjunct Professor; Executive Editor, Houston Law Review (1980)
  • J.D., summa cum laude, University of Houston Law Center (1979)
  • B.A., The University of Texas at Austin (1972)
Bar Admission
  • Texas
Court Admissions
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Claims
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Western District of Texas