Andrew T. "Drew" James

Andrew James is an accomplished trial lawyer and litigator who has won cases big and small from coast to coast. Drew harnesses substantial courtroom and litigation experience, as well as experience as in-house counsel, to resolve his clients’ thorniest issues. He also proactively advises clients to avoid disputes altogether.

Drew passionately represents his clients in all varieties of civil and business litigation, employment (both litigation and advice and counsel), education, and civil rights matters in federal and state courts nationwide. Drew’s clients include individuals, non-profit organizations, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. Drew has tried and won cases to juries and judges, and his knack for identifying winning issues has resulted in many conclusive victories via motion practice without need for trial.

Before joining Bassford Remele, Drew practiced in the employment group of one of the 100 largest firms in the country. Drew regularly advises his clients on employment-related issues such as hiring and firing, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions and agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, trade-secrets and confidential information, behavioral and disciplinary issues, paid and unpaid leave (including under the ADA, FMLA, Minnesota ESSL, and other state laws), employee-classification issues, employee drug testing, and more. Drew has also served as an investigator when sensitive personnel issues arise.

When a dispute is avoidable, clients praise Drew’s common-sense approach and practicality. He taps into his background as in-house counsel and works collaboratively with his clients to address issues before they erupt.

Drew also regularly advises educational institutions (including colleges, universities, high schools, and companies and organizations providing education-related services) on education-specific issues such as Title IX, FERPA, sexual assault and harassment matters, student privacy matters, state education laws, and other student and faculty issues. Drew is one of the rare lawyers to have tried and won a Title IX athletics case – and he has done it multiple times. Drew also began his career as a criminal defense attorney.