Overview

Andrea Y. James is a talented, tough and experienced litigator who focuses her practice on high-stakes commercial litigation, employment disputes and internal investigations. 

Based in Holland & Knight's Houston office, Ms. James defends employers of all sizes across all industries. She has considerable experience representing clients in federal and state courts nationwide, before administrative agencies and in arbitration forums in a wide variety of disputes, including fraud, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, healthcare fraud and abuse, Title VII and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) matters. Ms. James is a strong proponent for early and effective resolution backed by a reliable and effective trial option. Utilizing the knowledge and skills obtained from her time as an attorney in the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) Honors Program, she has successfully defended clients in both jury and bench trials.

Ms. James thrives under pressure and is frequently hired to represent clients involved in high-profile cases, where she serves as a zealous advocate and offers practical solutions to their most pressing challenges. She also regularly represents clients in obtaining and defending against requests for emergency relief and showcases her versatility with a diverse clientele, ranging from an internationally renowned celebrity music artist to oil pipeline companies.

In addition to her high-stakes litigation work, Ms. James supports clients facing government investigations and enforcement actions across various industries, including healthcare, education and finance. Ms. James counsels companies and their management teams on their obligations during such investigations and provides strategies for minimizing risks of litigation.

Ms. James also regularly offers counsel to businesses seeking to mitigate risk and avoid conflict. Leveraging her business degree and in-house secondment experience, clients value her balance of tireless advocacy with a focus on their bottom line and business interests. Moreover, Ms. James advises clients on policies and procedures involving labor and employment practices such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), union organization efforts and compensation plans.

You can often find Ms. James donning her professorial hat at her alma mater, Tulane University Law School, where she serves as an adjunct professor in the online Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law Program.

Representative Experience

  • Represented an oil and gas company as defendant in obtaining victory in a single plaintiff employment discrimination trial in a Texas state court
  • Represented a nonprofit client in obtaining a victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving a race discrimination case brought against them; won summary judgement in the case earlier in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Represented a nonprofit client in obtaining a victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit involving a pregnancy discrimination case brought against them; won summary judgement in the case earlier in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • Handled healthcare coverage and payment disputes between providers and managed-care entities as well as insurers in multiple venues across Texas
  • Secured multiple temporary injunctions for a celebrity client in unconscionable contract litigation
  • Secured a temporary injunction for an oil pipeline company in a right-of-first-refusal matter that resulted in a favorable out-of-court settlement
  • Secured an injunction and favorable settlement on behalf of a crude oil pipeline company in a regulatory matter concerning interstate pipeline rates
  • Counseled numerous healthcare clients on matters concerning non-compete and non-solicitation clauses
  • Represented an employer in non-compete litigation resulting in favorable settlement

Credentials

Education
  • Tulane University Law School, J.D.
  • University of Houston, M.Ed., summa cum laude
  • University of Michigan, B.B.A.
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • Texas
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Memberships
  • State Bar of Texas, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Advisory Member, 2024-2025
  • Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, State Bar of Texas
  • Leadership State Bar of Texas (LeadershipSBOT), Alumni
  • LeadershipSBOT, Class of 2023-2024
  • Leadership Houston, Class XL Fellows
  • Teach for America, Alumni
  • Teach for America, Junior Board Member
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
Honors & Awards
  • Outstanding Diversity Champion, Houston Business Journal Diversity in Business Awards, 2024
  • One to Watch, The Best Lawyers in America guide, Houston Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2024, 2025
  • Holland & Knight Rising Star, Class of 2024
  • Leadership Council on Leadership Diversity (LCLD), Pathfinder Program, 2023
  • Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2020, 2021

Publications

Speaking Engagements

News