Name: Bradbury, James D. “Jim”
Title: Founder of James D. Bradbury, PLLC
Texas A&M Class: 1988
Inducted: 2022
Biography
Jim Bradbury grew up in Richardson, Texas. He was surrounded by unplowed prairie, forests, ponds, and creeks at a young age. While growing up, he began to see development consume all this wonderful agricultural land. This is the seed that has led to all the agriculture land conservation work that Bradbury does statewide now. Bradbury graduated from Plano East Senior High in 1984. He was in FFA and showed steers at local and statewide shows. He also played football and soccer. Starting at the age of 10, Bradbury spent his summers in Kansas with his grandfather on their family farm. He was so enthralled with farming and ranching that he had no interest in attending college. His Ag teachers in high school convinced him to apply for Texas A&M University, thus began his life as an Aggie.
Bradbury graduated from Texas A&M University in 1988 with his B.S. in Agricultural Economics. While at A&M, he worked in the computer department of the Agricultural Economics building, teaching introductory computer programs to students. He was very involved in the Memorial Student Center (MSC), and he was the chair of the Recreation committee, hosting fun events for the students on campus. In between his junior and senior years, Bradbury was a summer intern in the Marketing Programs division of the Commodity Marketing Program in Washington D.C. His responsibilities included reviewing international marketing plans for U.S. producer groups, evaluating the plans on an economic basis. Following graduation, Bradbury enrolled in the University of Idaho School of Law where he graduated Cum Laude with his Juris Doctor in 1991. Interested in returning to the Dallas area and learning more about Texas law, he spent his third year of law school as a visiting student at Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas. In the summer of 1990, he was a Summer Associate with Jones Day and with Jackson & Waller, spending six weeks with each firm. While at these firms, he gained experience in environmental litigation, savings and loan mergers, intellectual property, employment discrimination, and general litigation.
The Summer Associate position at Jones Day turned into Bradbury’s first job following law school. For three years (1991-1994), Jim was a Litigation Associate, maintaining docket of cases in multiple states, including depositions, hearings, briefing and negotiations. He also worked on complex litigation matters in the area of insider trading and securities fraud, as well as insurance coverage. Next, he worked six years (1994-2000) partnering at Barrett and Deacon P.A., where he counseled for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and as lead counsel in an extensive number of trials in federal and state courts, as well as for several appellate proceedings. From 2004-2007, Bradbury was a partner for Jackson Walker LLP, advising clients in diverse issues and staying active in the firm’s international business practice. Finally, he started his own private practice, James D. Bradbury, PPLC in Fort Worth, Texas in 2007 to allow him to serve his clients more directly. His firm advises clients in the areas of environmental issues, water law and policy, business law, regulatory, and legislative matters.
Amongst Mr. Bradbury accomplishments, he was rated AV by Martindale Hubbell, which is the highest rating granted to attorneys under the Martindale Hubbell system. He has been admitted to practice before State and Federal Courts in Arkansas and Texas, Fifth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. He was awarded Top 40 Business Professionals Under 40 by FW Business Press. Jim also led two Business Delegations to China for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, as well as hosted Chinese Government Delegations to DFW. Bradbury has shared his knowledge and experience through many speaking events, presentations, and publications. He has been a member of the Bar Associations of Tarrant and Travis Counties, Texas Agricultural Land Trust Board of Directors, American Agricultural Law Association, State Bar of Texas Environmental Section, and Fort Worth Air Quality Study Committee. In the past, he has served as the chair of the Board of Texas Agricultural Land Trust Council, the Fort Worth Urban Forestry Board, and the Fort Worth Chamber International Business Development. He was the Trustee of the Fort Worth Economic Development Foundation. He was also a member of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, the Board of Dallas/Fort Worth World Affairs Council, and Fort Worth Sister Cities Board of Directors.
Today, Mr. Bradbury continues to run his private firm based in Fort Worth, along with an office in Austin. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M School of Law, currently teaching Agricultural Law and Eminent Domain.
Jim has been married to his wife, Elizabeth, for 27 years. Their oldest son, Sam (21), is a junior at the University of Texas in Austin, studying economics. Their youngest son, Jack (18), is graduating from high school and plans to attend Montana State University to study environmental science, with aspirations to be a fishing guide upon graduation. Jim and his sons share a love for the outdoors, spending time in Colorado or Montana fishing, hiking, and whitewater paddling every year. They enjoy fly fishing together, as well as golfing.
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