James P. Faunes

James P. Faunes joined Feldman Shepherd in 2016 after nearly three years litigating personal injury claims on behalf of the City of Philadelphia Law Department. During his tenure as a Deputy City Solicitor, he represented Philadelphia police officers, firefighters, and departmental employees, securing numerous verdicts on behalf of those individuals and entities at trial and arbitration. Prior to his time as a City Solicitor, James practiced at two large Philadelphia law firms representing corporate clients in contract and regulatory actions. James also completed clinical internships with Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as well as an internship with the office of the Montgomery County (PA) Public Defender.

James earned his law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he was a Staff Editor on the Temple Law Review. While attending the Beasley School of Law, he earned an Outstanding Oral Advocate Award for his work in its lauded Integrated Trial Advocacy Program and was named a Fellow of the Rubin Public Interest Honor Society. James currently serves as President on the Executive Board of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania, as well as Vice President of the Legal Education Fund endowed and administered by the Association. He also volunteers his time at a number of nonprofit organizations around the city, including Philadelphia VIP, the Homeless Advocacy Project, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

A former college athlete, James can now be found on various tennis courts and soccer fields in the Philadelphia area enjoying a rapid descent into athletic irrelevance. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife and young son whenever possible, and visiting his family in his hometown of Austin, Texas.

James is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Texas, and the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Education

Temple University Beasley School of Law, 2012

Swarthmore College, B.A., History, 2008

Admissions

Pennsylvania, 2013

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2014

Texas, 2015

Affiliations

Judicial Commission of the Philadelphia Bar Association
Vice Chair

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Member, Board of Directors

Hispanic Bar Association of Philadelphia
President, Executive Board
Treasurer, Executive Board

Hispanic Bar Association Legal Education Fund
Vice President, Executive Board

Soccer for Success
Member, Board of Directors

Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
Member, Future Leaders

Philadelphia Bar Association
Member, Young Lawyers Division

Pennsylvania Association for Justice
Member

Awards

SuperLawyers Rising Star,
Thompson Reuters, 2018 – Present

AL DÍA, 40 Under Forty, 2021

Publications

Estate of Henry v. Colangelo, et. al.
The Verdict, Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, 2022

Community Involvement

Philadelphia VIP Volunteer Attorney

Homeless Advocacy Project Volunteer Attorney

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Big Brother