About J. Tanner
J. Tanner James studied language and persuasion before turning to law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and German from Marshall University, listed with a 2007 degree date. He later attended the University of Kentucky College of Law and holds a J.D. dated 2011.
James began his legal career in 2011 as an associate at Jenkins Fenstermaker. He worked on matters typical for a small-to-medium firm associate, learning litigation fundamentals, client counseling and transactional drafting. That early practice provided a practical grounding in both courtroom procedure and day-to-day legal work for businesses.
In 2014 he took on a different role inside the private sector. He founded Almost Havana, LLC and served as its general counsel. That position put him on the front lines of in-house legal work. He handled corporate governance and contract matters for the company and advised on issues that arise when an entity grows from concept to operation.
He returned to private practice on his own terms in 2019, establishing James Legal, PLLC. The firm is the hub for his current work. He represents clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and is admitted to practice in West Virginia. His practice reflects the mix of litigation and transactional experience accumulated over a decade in both firm and in-house roles.
Colleagues describe him as pragmatic in approach. He prefers clear options to rhetorical flourishes. That temperament suits trademark proceedings, where process and evidence matter more than flourish. His background in advertising and German gives him an unusual combination of marketing sense and attention to detail when advising on brand selection and clearance.
Cases before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board form a significant part of his docket. He handles oppositions, cancellations and related filings. He also assists small businesses and entrepreneurs on formation decisions, contract drafting and routine corporate matters. His clients include startups as well as established businesses that need trademark counseling or transactional support.
Outside of court and client meetings, James maintains ties to professional peers and legal institutions. He keeps up with changes in trademark law and state practice in West Virginia. He lives and works in the region and balances litigation calendars with regular client counseling.
He practices at James Legal PLLC, where he concentrates on trademark proceedings and business law matters.
