James Burkhalter

James Burkhalter is an experienced litigator who handles catastrophic personal injury and death cases all over the country. Mr. Burkhalter works out of the Houston office of Sico Hoelscher Harris. He grew up in a small East Texas town near Cedar Creek Lake and attended The University of Texas at Austin, majoring in political science and minoring in business and communications.

While attending the University of Texas, Mr. Burkhalter had the opportunity to work at the Office of The Attorney General of Texas in the Special Litigation Division under then Attorney General Greg Abbott, stoking his desire to attend law school and pursue a career as a litigator.

After graduating from The University of Texas, Mr. Burkhalter moved to Houston, Texas to attend law school. He subsequently graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with both a Doctor of Jurisprudence and a Master of Laws in International Law.

During his law school career, Mr. Burkhalter studied European Union Law in Ireland and Wales at both the University College Dublin and Bangor College, and worked at a criminal defense firm in Pristina, Kosovo.

Prior to joining Sico Hoelscher Harris, Mr. Burkhalter gained valuable legal experience working at a Houston personal injury law firm where he helped over a thousand injured Texans resolve their cases. Mr. Burkhalter has tried many cases to a jury verdict, including taking excess verdicts (a verdict for an amount above the defendant’s insurance policy limit). Mr. Burkhalter has a particular interest in representing clients injured by drunk drivers and clients injured in commercial vehicle accidents. Mr. Burkhalter is licensed in Texas and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas.

In his spare time, Attorney Burkhalter enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing sports, and going on runs in Buffalo Bayou Park with his wife, Laila, and their two Transylvanian Hounds, June and Cash.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, The University of Texas at Austin
Juris Doctor (J.D.), University of Houston Law Center
Master of Laws, (LL.M.), University of Houston Law Center

Former Client Testimonials

“Great! Very Impressive”
Darrell H.
“SIco Hoelscher Harris should be commended for recognizing the opportunity for a winning case even though (another attorney) turned it down and you had a short time frame to work within. Furthermore, I appreciated your professional manner and you”
Wm. E. (Bill) Martin
“My family and I appreciate everything!”
Ms. Thomas
“First of all, we don't know how to thank SHHB. You guys did a terrific job for us. Sometimes we think that our boys sent you guys to us for help. We appreciate everything you did for us and you guys will be a part of our lives forever.”
The Chuyito Family
“After a lapse of nearly four years, I discovered that my former business partners had intentionally mislead me and convinced me to sell out of a business for a few hundred thousand dollars, which they sold for over $16 million four months later. After a pr”
John Jalufka