Jim practices in the areas of Business Law, Real Estate and Estate Planning. He also serves as corporate counsel to several small businesses and family owned companies. He is a Visiting Assistant Professor and the Associate Director of Graduate Business Programs at the Stetson University School of Business Administration, overseeing the J.D./M.B.A. Program on Stetson's College of Law campus. He teaches graduate courses on Strategic Management, Organizational Theory and Behavior, Business Law and Marketing. Jim lectures locally and nationally to lawyers, accountants and other professionals on Professionalism, Diversity, Estate Planning and Practice Management issues, and has written numerous law practice related articles. He serves as an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau’s AutoLine Program and is admitted to The Florida Bar, the US Supreme Court, the US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, the US Tax Court and the US Court of International Trade. Over the past 20 years, he has owned and operated several businesses as a manufacturer's representative, restaurateur and commercial real estate developer, and is the principal broker for Real Estate firms in Florida and Kentucky. Education J.D., College of Law, Stetson University, Gulfport, Florida M.B.A., School of Business Administration, Stetson University, DeLand, Florida B.S., Centre College, Danville, Kentucky Professional Activities Jim is the current President of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and a Past-President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation. He has served as the Chair of the Lawyer Referral Service Committee and has chaired the Solo, Small Firm and Practice Management Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. Jim is a member of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar, a past member of the Professionalism Committee and a Certified Diversity Trainer through the Center for Professionalism. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Community and Volunteer Activities Jim is past chair and a current member of the Gulfport Police Pension Board and does pro-bono legal work for various small business start-up companies. He is a Founding Director of the Gulfport Arts Center.  He has also managed and coached a Tee Ball Team for the Gulfport Little League and served on the Catholic Foundation Business Advisory Committee for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He is a member of the Finance Council at St. John Vianney Catholic Church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus Pius XII Council 5131. Jim is married to Kelly Gratzer Thaler. They have one daughter and a fish.