There are times at every law firm when a situation presents itself where the answer to a question is not clear, when the legal issues are complex and tangled, or when compassion and understanding are needed as much as a citation to a statute. It is in those moments that James Healy remembers why he became a lawyer. When asked, he explains, "I see being an attorney as both a responsibility and privilege -- to be the person who is allowed to stand up in the legal system for those who cannot stand up for themselves."

James joined Sullivan & Brill, LLP in 2013 after receiving his J.D. with summa cum laude honors from Pace University School of Law. While in law school, James won numerous awards including the Deans Award for outstanding achievement, and the Westchester County Above the Bar award, which recognized him as the most promising law student. He was also the Executive Articles Editor for Pace Law Review, a member of the National Moot Court team, and captain of the International Criminal Moot Court Team.  

Today, James focuses his practice in the areas of complex issues of civil and criminal litigation, trial, and appellate practice. He has written and argued appeals in the First and Second Departments as well as in the First and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals. He has acted as the first or second seat in both criminal and civil trials. He is particularly passionate about civil-rights cases,  and, in 2019,  was one of the leads on the trial team that won a $900,000 jury verdict in a police abuse case. He reflects, “lawyers are by their nature competitive people, and we work hard to ‘win' for our clients. But sometimes the issues are important in ways not easily apparent. My primary focus is always to affect positive change in one life-- for the client who is right in front of me-- but I never want to lose the hope that, if given the chance, I can, even in a small way, help to change the world for people I might never know.”

Joined the Firm

• 2013

Education

• Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York
  • J.D., summa cum laude
  • National Moot Court team
  • International Criminal Moot Court Team
  • Westchester County Above the Bar award winner
  • Dean's Award winner
  • Law Review: PACE, Executive Articles Editor
• Columbia University
  • B.A.

Past Employment Positions

• Intern, Honorable Kenneth Karas, a district judge for the S.D.N.Y
• Intern, Honorable Daniel Angiolillo, of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Intern, Manhattan and Westchester District Attorneys' offices