Harrisonburg Attorney
James L. Johnson

James Lewis Johnson is an associate in the law firm of Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver PLC and has practiced in Harrisonburg and Staunton with that firm since 2007. A native of Hillsboro, Virginia, Mr. Johnson has continually practiced in the areas of real estate and finance since graduating law school in 2004. He also represents businesses and individuals in the private sector focusing on creditor’s rights, zoning and land use, commercial law, construction law, entity formations, collections, bankruptcy, and real estate. He is admitted to practice in federal and state courts, including the Virginia and West Virginia state courts, the United States Bankruptcy Courts of the Southern District of West Virginia, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia.

Mr. Johnson received his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from Widener University School of Law. Prior to graduating law school, Mr. Johnson was a law clerk for the Chief Counsel for the Pennsylvania State Police for one year and an Intake and Juvenile Probation Officer in Loudoun County, Virginia for three years.

Mr. Johnson then transitioned to the practice of law spending three years with a residential real estate law firm in the Northern Shenandoah Valley performing hundreds of real estate transactions each year.  Since 2008 Mr. Johnson has focused his practice on commercial real estate as well as creditors’ rights, including collections actions and defending creditors’ interests in a variety of different bankruptcy and state court proceedings.  Examples of real estate and creditor’s rights experience include participating in contested land use and zoning disputes, negotiation of leases, secured financing both on debtor and lender side, representation of seller and purchaser in complex real estate transaction, representation of creditor in loan work-outs and foreclosures, an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding on behalf of a petitioning creditor, contested lift stay and cash collateral motions, defending improper subpoenas, and successfully defending dozens of creditors in avoidance actions.

Aside from practicing law, Mr. Johnson was lecturer and DPOR licensed instructor of real estate law and ethics to real estate agents and brokers in Virginia and West Virginia. Mr. Johnson has also devoted a great deal of time volunteering for a number of different civic organizations, has served on various boards, and has taught civics and law-related education at elementary schools.

Education:

• Widener School of Law, J.D., 2004
• University of Virginia, B.A., Government, 2000
• North Carolina State University

Admissions:

• Virginia, 2004
• West Virginia, 2007
• Northern and Southern District of West Virginia (Federal & Bankruptcy)
• Eastern and Western District of Virginia (Bankruptcy)

Areas of Practice:

• Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Law
• Business and Commercial Law
• Business Litigation
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Wills, Estates, Trusts and Estate Administration

Books, Publications, and Articles:

• The Administrative Law Journal for Pennsylvania, 2003-2004
• PSP Counselor, 2003-2004
• A Tale of Two Real Estate Contracts, 2007

Memberships & Awards:

• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
• Trail Advocacy Honor Society, Widener University School of Law
• Virginia’s Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine (2010-2012, Real Estate)
• Mr. Johnson is a member of the:
  • Virginia State Bar
  • West Virginia State Bar, and
  • Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Bar Association

Representative Experience:

• Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver PLC (2007-present)
• Shreves Schudel DeVol Saunders Jackson Clarke and Parello, PLLC (2005-2007)
• Law Clerk for Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania State Police (2003-2004)
• Legal Intern to Stockman Title and Escrow, LLC (2003)