James (“Jim”) Vaughan is a veteran intellectual-property litigator and strategist with over four decades of experience guiding companies through high-stakes patent and antitrust disputes and portfolio-driven business decisions. Formerly the leader of Womble’s patent and patent-litigation teams—and later chair of the firm’s IP Department—Jim has served as lead trial counsel, managed complex multi-venue matters, and argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and other appellate courts. He also represents clients in post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, including inter partes reviews.

Jim’s industry fluency is grounded in on-the-ground engineering experience: before entering law, he worked as a mining engineer with the Pittston Coal Group. That practical foundation, combined with decades in patent litigation, allows him to align legal strategy with operational and commercial objectives for market-leading clients in manufacturing, energy, and high technology.