About James L. Wadhams, Esq.
Founding Partner
James L. Wadhams is a Partner at Black & Wadhams.
Jim Wadhams focuses his practice on government relations, insurance and administrative law. He has acted as an attorney or a hearing officer in administrative hearings on matters ranging from licensing, rating and holding company issues. He was counsel to five insurance commissioners before being appointed Insurance Commissioner in Nevada. He was later appointed to head the umbrella agency, the Department of Commerce, of which the Division of Insurance was one of 13 agencies.
Mr. Wadham’s long career includes public service as a staff attorney for insurance regulatory agencies in two states. He was also a Deputy Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner and Director of the Department of Commerce (now Business and Industry) for the State of Nevada.
He began working in government relations by presenting issues at the legislature for public agencies in Nebraska, and since 1977, has represented public and private clients as a lobbyist before the Nevada Legislature. He has represented such clients as Nevada Independent Insurance Agents, the Nevada Hospital Association, Newmont Mining Corporation, and the Vegas Chamber of Commerce. He was selected by his peers to be included in the Lobbying Hall of Fame.
Mr. Wadham’s extensive knowledge of the executive and legislative process has assisted clients in accomplishing a wide array of legislative and regulatory changes including converting the state’s workers’ compensation insurance from a state-controlled monopoly to a vibrant competitive commercial market, creating a nationally recognized standard for mining reclamation and assisting in the legislation of virtually all major tax issues in recent years in Nevada. He has succeeded in disputes resulting in significant savings for various clients of tax assessments in the areas of sales tax, property tax, cannabis tax and the net proceeds of mines tax. He has been recognized as an expert witness in insurance matters in the courts of Nevada and Idaho. He has also successfully handled the regulatory approval of several major acquisitions and formations of insurance companies in Nevada.
Bar Admissions:
- Nevada
- Nebraska
- Washington, D.C.
Education
- University of Nebraska, JD
- Stanford University, BA
Awards & Recognitions
- 2007-2024 – Best Lawyers in America®, Government Relations Practice
- 2013 – Nevada’s Best Lawyers®
- 2013 – Top Lawyers, Vegas Inc.
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated (the highest rating available), by Martindale-Hubbell
Boards & Community Service
- Member, American Health Lawyers Association
- Board Member, Public Education Foundation
- Board Member, Las Vegas Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
- Chairman, Nevada Captive Insurance Association
- Chairman of the Board, Westcare Foundation
