James Higgins

James Higgins is an experienced attorney offering counsel on banking, commercial, business, fiduciary, securities, and regulatory matters, with an emphasis on litigation. Mr. Higgins also has a focus on public finance law serving as Trustee Counsel on corporate and municipal bond offerings.

Biography

Mr. Higgins has substantial experience in a variety of areas including general civil litigation, professional liability, health care, regulatory compliance, employment law, fiduciary law, municipal law, municipal bonds, regulatory investigations, oil and gas law, property law and appellate advocacy. Prior to Joining Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers, Mr. Higgins was Counsel for ConocoPhillips Legal Department, Claims Division.

Representative Recent Engagements

  • Bond Recovery:
    • Representation of Indenture Trustee in default of over $70 million of municipal revenue bonds secured by more than 1700 multi-family apartments in the panhandle of Florida.
    • Representation of Indenture Trustee in default of over $75 million of municipal bonds secured by assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and skilled nursing facilities through SEC Court Monitor.
    • Representation of Indenture Trustee in default of over $60 million of municipal bonds secured by assisted living facilities, independent living facilities and skilled nursing facilities through SEC Receiver.
  • Fiduciary Representation:
    • Representation of Corporate Trustee with respect to claims brought against it by a minority of the beneficiaries alleging that the Trust had been mismanaged, resulting in a Court Award and recovery of approximately $2.1 million in attorneys’ fees.
  • Internal Investigations and Regulatory Representation:
    • Represented institutional and individual clients in multiple Securities and Exchange Commission involving allegations of securities fraud and/or aiding and abetting securities fraud.
    • Represented institutional and individual clients in multiple investigations by the Officer of Comptroller of Currency.
    • Represented banks in internal investigations and filing proof of loss documents.
    • Represented institutional and individual clients in actions brought by FINRA.
  • Receivership:
    • Representation of banks in securing court appointment of receivers to manage large multi-family projects, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, independent living facilities and charter schools.
  • Securities Litigation:
    • Represented institutional and individual clients in class actions involving claims of securities fraud and in actions brought in FINRA.
  • Suitability Claims:
    • Representation of individual and institutions in defending and prosecuting claims of suitability of investments.
  • Catastrophic Injury Litigation:
    • Representation of surviving family members in wrongful death personal injury claim related to aviation accident.
  • Assist the Bank on evaluating corporate structures and corporate documents for purposes of lending facilities, opening and closing corporate accounts and disputes related to corporations’ accounts, etc.






















Undergraduate:
University of Tulsa, B.A., Political Science, 1993

Law:
University of Tulsa College of Law, J.D., 1999

Oklahoma, 2000

Texas, 2011 

National Association of Bond Lawyers; Master of the Bar for the Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Inn of Court; Member of Oklahoma, Texas, Tulsa and American Bar Associates; Board Member, YMCA of Greater Tulsa; Member, Tulsa Area United Way, De Tocqueville Society

Wendi Holderfield
wholderfield@fdlaw.com