An Athens resident since 1970, Jim Warnes primarily focuses on real estate law and commercial litigation. His client base of individuals, real estate professionals, residential developers and financial institutions benefit from his 40+ years of experience. Jim practices in all levels of Georgia State Courts and is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia. He has represented clients in winning appeals in both the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court.
Jim has mediated numerous disputes as both a court ordered mediator and as a private mediator selected by the parties. His emphasis is on helping the parties find a resolution that satisfies the requirements and concerns of each party participating in the mediation.
Jim graduated cum laude from Erskine College in 1968 and received his J. D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1973. Between undergraduate and law school, Jim served in the U.S. Army in Korea in a Criminal Investigation Unit.
In addition to his private practice, Jim has dedicated himself to the Athens community as a part-time Municipal Court Judge on two different occasions, chairman of the Athens Board of Zoning Appeals, as president of the Clarke County Board of Education, and member of the Downtown Athens Historic Designation Committee. He has twice served as secretary of the Western Circuit Bar Association. Currently, he is president of the Downtown Athens Property Owners Association.
Other organizations in which he has been involved include the Southern Institute for Appropriate Technology, March of Dimes and the American Red Cross. He also enjoys working with Habitat for Humanity.
An avid outdoorsman, Jim enjoys canoeing, hiking and nature photography. He is also an amateur chef. Jim is a member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, where he is active with the Men's Club.
Jim and his wife, Carol, a mathematics instructor at UGA, have two grown daughters.