Lawyer Monthly Magazine - August 2019 Edition

Real Estate Litigation What Makes A Successful Lawyer For Real Estate Litigation? After working at the same firm since graduating, James Weger speaks about how a law firm can truly shape you as a successful trial lawyer. James shares some of his expertise as a specialist in commercial and residential litigation and what gives rise to such cases. What drew you to the legal profession? I’m originally from Denver, Colorado and I grew up in an oil and gas family. My oldest brother was a doctor and my sister was a lawyer. They were both adamant that I (being the youngest of four children), should choose their respective profession as my career. The big family holiday in my family was always Thanksgiving when everyone, no matter where they lived, ended up at my parents’ house. One Thanksgiving while I was in undergraduate school, my brother, the surgeon, showed up for the holiday with blood on his shoes from a recent surgery he had performed. It was at that moment, I looked at my sister, the lawyer, and informed her that she had won the contest and I would attend law school. Who influenced your career development? Since graduating from the University of Oklahoma law school in 1982, I have had but one job and that is with my current firm Jones, Gotcher & Bogan, P.C. The firm was founded in 1964 by Bill Jones and Jack Givens. After starting out as a young associate, with the help of the senior partners, I continued to develop my skills as a trial lawyer and eventually became president of the firm in 1994. I have served in that capacity since that time. I can proudly say it’s the only law firm where I have ever wanted to practice. The atmosphere at Jones, Gotcher & Bogan, P.C. is what brought me there and I have continued to run the firm in the tradition of Jack Givens, Bill Jones, and Neil Bogan. JGB is unique, we work hard, we play hard, but we always put our clients first and provide only the highest quality legal advice, which is what has brought success to this firm for over 50 years. Early on in my career, I was mentored by such fine trial lawyers as Burt Bailey from Fellers Snider in Oklahoma City, where I was a law clerk during school, Jack Givens, Darrell Gotcher and many others too numerous to name. I was taught early on in order to be a successful trial lawyer you have to be able to think quickly on your feet; always be willing to re-examine the facts and evidence, and always be two steps ahead of your opponent. To be a successful trial lawyer you must work hard, you must think fast, and of course, know the law. What makes you a successful litigator? Throughout my career, I have been successful in both prosecuting and defending commercial litigation cases of all types, including EEOC, trademark, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and construction. Whether a trial lasts three days or six weeks, you must prepare well in advance, then constantly re-evaluate the evidence that comes in each day Super Lawyers By James Weger, Jones, Gotcher & Bogan, P.C. 74 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | AUG 2019 Contact JAMES WEGER SHAREHOLDER DIRECT DIAL (918) 581-8256 JWEGER@JONESGOTCHER.COM www.jonesgotcher.com