Jim Wilkes

James L. Wilkes, II, a native of Tampa, Florida, founded [http://www.wilkesmchugh.com Wilkes & McHugh, P.A.] with Tim McHugh in 1985. Mr. Wilkes received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1983.

Mr. Wilkes has gained national recognition for handling nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits; however, the firm also handles serious injury and wrongful death, as well as medical malpractice. [ [http://www.wilkesmchugh.com Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. Website] retrieved on 2007-02-07] Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. was recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the top 20 go-to law firms in the nation for its work in the area of nursing home abuse and neglect. [McAree, Dee: "Carving Out a Lucrative Niche". National Law Journal, July 26, 2004] He has been featured in People Magazine [Charles, Nick & Sider, Don: "Make Them Pay, Attorney Jim Wilkes Takes Neglectful Nursing Homes to Court for Their Carelessness". People Magazine, November 11, 1999] , as well as on television shows such as Dateline [Datline: "Video Cameras in Nursing Homes". NBC, August 1, 2000] , 48 Hours [48 Hours: "Saving Mom & Dad". CBS, July 30, 1998] and CBS Evening News [CBS Evening News: "Nursing Homes in Trouble". CBS, May 18, 2000] .

Mr. Wilkes is a frequent lecturer on personal injury issues and has been recognized across the country for his advocacy on behalf of victims of abuse. ["The Rise of Malpractice in Long-Term Care: An Attorney's View of Clinical Care". American Geriatrics Society's National Convention] ["Interdisciplinary Planning as a System to Achieve Resident Standards of Care". Senior Services Network's Senior Services Seminar] He is regularly named as one of the top lawyers in the country and was recently recognized by the [http://www.nccnhr.org National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform] with their Special Appreciation Award. [Florida Justice Association's President's Award , 1997; Florida Justice Association's John E. Krupnick Award for Perserverence, 2005; and the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform's Special Appreciation Award, 2006]

He is licensed to practice law in 8 states including California, Florida and Texas. He is a member of the American Bar Association, and the [http://www.justice.org American Association for Justice] (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America).

Beyond the practice of law

Mr. Wilkes’ advocacy extends beyond the courtroom. He has been a fixture in the halls of government in several state capitals and in Washington D.C., and has worked to protect the rights of the elderly. It is in this arena where he has been the most outspoken advocate for preventing abuse before it starts. [Smith, Doug: "Angel or Anti-Christ". Arkansas Times, December 7, 2001] [Miller, Adam: "Angels of Death". Law.com Florida, January 1, 2001] That is why, in part, he created a full-time advocacy group, [http://www.familiesforbettercare.org Families for Better Care.] The Coalition serves as a voice for nursing home residents and advocates for change to our nation’s long-term care delivery system. In recognition of the effectiveness of this advocacy group, the Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s Elders was elected to serve as the president of the nation’s largest and oldest nursing home resident advocacy group, the [http://www.nccnhr.org National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.]

In 2004, Jim Wilkes was also recognized for his contribution to his law school alma mater, Stetson University College of Law, with an annual scholarship for non-traditional students who are changing careers or raising a family. [Reincheld, Aaron: "Part-time Student Awarded Largest Stetson Scholarship Ever", Page 32. Stetson Lawyer, 2004] Moreover, Mr. Wilkes was recognized as among the first Americans to make a significant donation to the 2004 tsunami relief in Southeast Asia, donating to the effort to aid orphan children whose parents were taken by the disaster. [Smith, Brad: [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/tampatribune/access/778008851.html?dids=778008851:778008851&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+12%2C+2005&author=BRAD+SMITH&pub=Tampa+Tribune&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Local+Lawyer+Sees+Tsunami+Devastation "Local Lawyer Sees Tsunami Devastation"] , Metro Section, Page 1. Tampa Tribune, January 12, 2005] Following his tour of tsunami-ravaged areas, he was met, in "small-world" [Kennedy, John and Mahlburg, Bob: [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/782775021.html?dids=782775021:782775021&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+23%2C+2005&author=John+Kennedy+and+Bob+Mahlburg%2C+Tallahassee+Bureau&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&edition=&startpage=B.5&desc=BUSH+SEES+FAMILIAR+FACE+IN+THAILAND "Bush Sees Familiar Face in Thailand"] , Section B, Page 5. Orlando Sentinel, January 23, 2005] fashion by the entourages of the then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Colin Powell as they commenced their efforts to bring attention to the disaster.

Jim Wilkes also serves as a personal mentor and legal advisor to two nationally-recognized sports champions. As featured in the New York Times, Jim Wilkes has been an advisor and friend to former boxing super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy and junior middleweight champion Ronald Winky Wright. [Berkow, Ira: [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E17FB355B0C718CDDA10894DD404482 "BOXING; Fighter and Lawyer Are Hard to Beat as an Unlikely Team"] , Section D, Page 7. New York Times, August 2, 2005] [Cotey, John C.: [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/877023941.html?dids=877023941:877023941&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Aug+3%2C+2005&author=JOHN+C.+COTEY&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&desc=Fortune+finds+way+to+fame "Fortune Finds Way to Fame"] , Section C, Page 1. St. Petersburg Times, August 3, 2005] Mr. Wilkes was nominated for the Al Buck Manager of the Year for 2004-2005 by the [http://www.bwaa.org Boxing Writers Association of America.]

Mr. Wilkes also released several albums ranging from country/rock to jazz standards and top 40. His albums include “Then & Now”, [Wilkes, Jim: "Then & Now". Stevan Pippin, Tough & Tender Records in association with Windhaven Productions] “Bittersweet”, [Wilkes, Jim: "Bittersweet". Stevan Pippin, Mainstar Entertainment 2000] and “Beyond the Blue”. [Wilkes, Jim: "Beyond the Blue". Stevan Pippin, Mainstar Entertainment 2005] Mr. Wilkes is also a featured artist on the website of multi-platinum musical producer [http://www.ronoates.com Ron Oates.]

Sources

Other Sources

External links

* [http://www.wilkesmchugh.com Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. Website]
* [http://www.ronoates.com Jes Fine Productions]