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James E. Vaughan

Jim has more than 30 years of experience representing lenders in commercial loan workouts, bankruptcy cases and commercial litigation. This, coupled with his accounting background and business skills developed running a solo law practice for twelve years, gives him a deep understanding of his client’s business objectives and has prepared him well for his role in Blanco Tackabery’s recently formed Outside General Counsel Services Practice Group. Jim’s common sense, results-driven approach to counselling clients serves their needs effectively and efficiently.

Jim is also a member of Blanco Tackabery’s Business Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights practice group. He has the business acumen to thoroughly analyze business financial records and determine where weaknesses exist. Jim’s extensive experience assisting clients through sometimes contentious loan workouts, bankruptcy plan formulations and mediations has honed his negotiating skills. Utilizing his depth of experience, Jim recognizes the importance of striking the correct tone for each situation from a low-key approach to dealing aggressively with matters when appropriate. His willingness and ability to competently litigate matters provide his clients with the confidence that they will obtain excellent results.

Jim has extensive experience in all aspects of bankruptcy and insolvency law. He has represented secured lenders, unsecured lenders, landlords, equity interest holders and other parties in interest in many Chapter 11 cases and thousands of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases. Jim has the capability to handle any aspect of a bankruptcy case, from the most routine motion for relief from the automatic stay to a contested Chapter 11 confirmation hearing. In addition, Jim has ably defended numerous creditors in automatic stay and discharge injunction sanctions cases.

Jim regularly appears in state court on matters ranging from contested foreclosures and commercial collections to defense of unfair and deceptive trade practice complaints.

With more than 30 years of legal experience, Jim’s practice is devoted primarily to representing financial institutions, companies and individuals as creditors in bankruptcy cases, in state and federal court litigation and in commercial loan workouts. Jim has represented clients in state court throughout North Carolina, and in bankruptcy and district court in all three federal districts. Jim’s years of experience negotiating plans of reorganization on behalf of creditors have provided him with insights helpful in reaching successful settlements of complex litigation and loan workouts.

Practice Areas

  • Business Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Lending and Financial Institution Services
  • Outside General Counsel Services

Education

  • B.S., Bowling Green State University, 1981
  • J.D., with distinction, Ohio Northern University, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • North Carolina, 1984

Areas of Focus

  • Business bankruptcy
  • Loan workouts
  • Consumer bankruptcy
  • Sanctions defense
  • Commercial litigation
  • Commercial foreclosure
  • Commercial collection
  • Collateral recovery

Practice Highlights

  • Successfully represented financial institutions in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 business bankruptcy cases, including contested confirmation hearings
  • Protected the collateral and rights of financial institutions in more than 5,000 consumer bankruptcy cases
  • Obtained orders for recovery of personal property collateral in hundreds of cases
  • Successfully prosecuted numerous non-dischargeability actions in bankruptcy cases
  • Frequently represents creditors in defending automatic stay and discharge injunction sanctions litigation in bankruptcy cases
  • Experienced in obtaining preliminary injunctions, temporary restraining orders and receiverships to preserve client assets

Professional & Civic Activities

  • AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 10 years
  • Named to the Legal Elite in Bankruptcy Law by Business North Carolina Magazine, 2007
  • Past member of the Bankruptcy Section Council of the North Carolina Bar Association
  • Chapter Editor, North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual (2012)
  • Frequent speaker at regional continuing legal education seminars
  • Past Vice Chair of the Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission
  • Co-Chair, Wanda Merschel for City Council, 2009
  • Past member of the Vestry, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
  • Past head coach of numerous Optimist soccer, YMCA basketball and church league basketball teams