James Hiers

Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers founding member James B. Hiers, Jr., practiced workers' compensation law for 60 years. Though now retired, he continues to do mediations and his distinguished tenure as leader and counselor continues to have a lasting impact on the firm today.

Mr. Hiers is past president and past chairman of the Board of the Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel, an international association of defense attorneys, insurance executives and corporate counsel. He also is past president of the Southeastern Claim Executives Association (now called the Atlantic Claim Executives Association). He is the former vice chairman of Defense Research and Trial Lawyers Association's Law Institute and served on its board of directors. Elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates,

Mr. Hiers is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and he served as vice chairman of the Products Liability Committee of the American Bar Association's TIPS Section and as senior vice chairman of the Workers' Compensation Committee. Mr. Hiers is one of 22 life members of the Atlanta Claims Association and for over 25 years conducted the installation of officers at the association’s annual conference.

Awards/Recognitions

• AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
• Defense Attorney of the Year, State Board of Workers' Compensation, 1989

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Atlanta Claims Association Lifetime Member
• Defense Research and Trial Lawyers Association's Law Institute
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Southeastern Claims Executives Association
• State Bar of Georgia
• Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel

Thought Leadership

• Brain Damage: Coping with Neuropsychological Evidence, Law-Psychology Press, 1991
• Georgia Workers' Compensation Law and Practice, The Harrison & Co., 1981, 1988