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Renee L. James

Counsel
P: 315.565.4507
F: 315.565.4600

With over two decades of experience representing various school districts across New York State, Renee James counsels clients in our Labor & Employment, Education, and Municipal Practices. She has a breadth of experience advising private and public sector employers in the areas of education and employment law, including special and general education issues, Title IX, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Ms. James has represented the New York State Public High School Athletic Association since 2005.

Representative Matters

  • Successfully arbitrated employee discharge and contract interpretation matters
  • Successfully defended school districts, NYSPHSAA and Section III in numerous Article 78 Proceedings
  • Successfully defended school districts in IDEA matters in impartial hearings, appeals to the State Review Officers and Federal court
  • Successfully defended school districts and NYSPHSAA in Title VII, ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act claims in Federal Court
  • Successfully defended school districts, NYSPHSAA and Section III in numerus 310 Appeals to the Commissioner
  • Participated in the drafting of the NYSPHSAA Transgender Guidelines for Student Athletes
  • Albany School of Law Union University, J.D., 1987
  • State University of New York at Cortland, B.A., cum laude, 1982

Admissions:

Credentials:

  • Board Member, Jamesville-Dewitt Central School District
  • Adjunct Professor, Education Law, Syracuse University
  • Member, State University College at Cortland Council
  • Past Board of Directors, Central New York State Women’s Bar Association
  • Past Board of Directors, Regional Learning Center
  • Past Board of Directors, Consumer Credit Counseling
  • Past Member, Onondaga and Oswego County Chapter, American Red Cross
  • Volunteer Arbitrator, Syracuse City Small Claims Court
  • Certified Instructor, New York State DASA

Honors & Recognitions:

  • Selected, New York – Upstate, Super Lawyers 
  • Section III Service Award
  • Women in Business Award
  • Albany Academies v. NYSPHSAA, 145 A.D. 3d 1258 (3d Dept. 2016)
  • Pena v. NYSPHSAA, 118 A.D. 1456 (4th Dept. 2014)
  • Aquinas Institute of Rochester v. Cerone, NYSPHSAA et al., 47 Misc. 3d 1223 (Supreme Court, Monroe County 2014)
  • Lawer v. NYSPHSAA, Dismissal of ADA charge before Office of Civil Rights (2016)
  • “Second Circuit Dismisses ERISA Suit to Recover Accrued Vacation Benefits,” Daily Labor Report, Bureau of National Affairs, July 12, 1993.