About Jim

Jim is an attorney who is of counsel to Safford Motely, PLC. Jim maintains offices in Gilbert, Arizona and Nashville, Tennessee. Before joining Safford Motley, PLC, Jim was a co-founding member of Guidant Law PLC in Tempe, Arizona. Prior to Guidant, Jim honed his diverse skill sets at Portland-based Davis Dixon Kirby LLP, where he served as founding and managing partner, as well as Davis Wright Tremaine in Portland, Oregon. Jim maintains offices in Gilbert, Arizona and Nashville, Tennessee.

Legal Counsel

Jim provides legal counsel to small and mid-sized businesses, advising on both the challenges and growth opportunities that owners experience throughout numerous transitional phases. Notably, Jim is a valued advisor during the acquisition or sale of a company as well as navigating business partnerships. He has assisted startup companies faced with a myriad of legal issues, including entity formation and structure, commercial leasing, intellectual property protection, and general operational matters.​

Practice Areas

Business Law

The legal practice that deals with the formation, operation, and dissolution of businesses, as well as contracts and disputes related to business activities.

Entertainment Law

The legal practice that deals with the legal aspects of the entertainment industry, including contracts, intellectual property, and labor and employment issues.

Music Law

A subset of entertainment law that specifically deals with legal issues related to the music industry, such as copyright, licensing, and contracts.

Entity Formation

The legal process of creating a business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation, to protect owners from personal liability and establish a legal structure for the business.

Business Sales

The legal process of buying or selling a business, including negotiating and drafting contracts, due diligence, and closing the transaction.

Veterinarian Practice Sales

The legal process of buying or selling a veterinary practice, including negotiating and drafting contracts, due diligence, and closing the transaction.

Trademark

A legal protection for a word, phrase, symbol, or design that is used to distinguish a company’s products or services from others in the marketplace.

Copyright

A legal protection for original works of authorship, such as books, music, and movies, that gives the creator the exclusive right to use and distribute the work.

Licensing Agreements

Legal contracts that allow one party to use another party’s intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, or copyrights, for a fee or under certain conditions.

Endorsement Agreements

Legal contracts that allow a celebrity or influencer to endorse a product or service in exchange for compensation.

Commercial Real Estate Transactions

The legal process of buying, selling, leasing, or developing commercial real estate, including due diligence, negotiating and drafting contracts, and closing the transaction.

Commercial Leases

Legal contracts that establish the terms and conditions of a rental agreement for commercial property, including rent payments, maintenance responsibilities, and lease termination.

Entertainment, Sports  & Much More.

Highly regarded as a top entertainment attorney, Jim has experience representing musicians, YouTube influencers, producers, songwriters, entertainers, and professional athletes. He brings extensive knowledge of trademark, copyright, endorsement and licensing law, presenting practical solutions to some of the most common legal issues that musical artists and other creatives face. He previously served as in-house counsel and vice president to a mid-sized baseball agency specializing in athletic representation. During his tenure, Jim assisted with negotiating player contract salaries, endorsements contracts and preparing salary arbitration cases.​

Jim also offers unique insight into the veterinary industry, having assisted many veterinarians with both the acquisition and sale of veterinary practices as well as the ongoing legal matters of operating a veterinary practice.​

Contact

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633 E. Ray Rd.
Suite 106
Gilbert, AZ 85296

480-422-4991

214 Overlook Circle,
Suite 251
Brentwood, TN, 37027

615-866-5125