Practice Areas
Industries
Education
George Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1968
College of William & Mary, A.B., 1965
Bar & Court Admissions
- Virginia, 1968
- District of Columbia, 1970
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
James Korman is a shareholder of Bean, Kinney & Korman. He is a widely renowned divorce attorney with over 40 years of experience in domestic relations and personal injury matters.
Jim counsels and represents clients in all aspects of family law with particular focus on complex divorces involving the division of marital assets including stock options, pension plans, investment and business interests for high net worth individuals. He regularly applies his past experience in business, commercial and banking law to benefit his family law clients.
Jim is consistently featured in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian magazine, Northern Virginia magazine and other regional and national publications for his depth and breadth of experience in domestic relations.
In 2009, the Northern Virginia magazine listed Jim as a "Top Divorce Lawyer" and said, "He always tries to settle a case, but is not afraid to go to court," and "He is respected by fellow attorneys for his intellect, ethics and professionalism." Jim was described by Washingtonian magazine in March 2000 as "a straight shooter who always does his homework,” "adept at complicated cases" and knowledgeable about banking law which "is especially helpful in advising divorce clients on issues involving creditors." In February 2004, Washingtonian magazine said, "He has a stellar reputation...For clients who want things handled, he is the man...He is always prepared and business-like." In his nomination for the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section’s Lifetime Achievement award, which Jim received in 2014, fellow family law attorney Terrence R. Batzli wrote, “He is always willing to discuss potential solutions to every pending issue in a manner which will effect the best result for his client.”
As a seasoned trial attorney, Jim knows when to litigate, when to negotiate and when to mediate.
Click below to watch video:
Ep. 1: Considerations Prior to Separation
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Honors
AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, Judicial Edition, 2019
Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame, 2018
Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Leader in the Law, 2015
Arlington County Bar Foundation, William L. Winston Award, 2015
Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, Betty A. Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award, 2014
Washingtonian, Top Lawyer in Domestic Relations, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 & 2018
Washingtonian, Top Divorce Lawyer, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2019, 2020
Best Lawyers in America in Family Law, 1995 - 2021
Best Lawyers in America “Family Law Lawyer of the Year” for the Washington, D.C. area, 2012
Virginia Super Lawyers in Family Law, 2006 – present
Virginia Super Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers, 2015 - present
Washington D.C. Super Lawyers in Family Law, 2007 – present
Virginia Business, Legal Elite in Family Law/Domestic Relations, 2016, 2020
Virginia Business magazine, Legal Elite, 2006 & 2011
Northern Virginia magazine, Top Lawyer, 2013
Northern Virginia magazine, Top Divorce Lawyer, 2009 & 2016
Outstanding Lawyers of America
AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Experience
- Korman, Administrator v. Carpenter, 216 Va. 86 (1975)
- Gambino v. Fairfax County School Board, 429 F. Supp. 731 (E.D. Va. 1977), aff'd, 564 F.2d 157 (4th Cir. 1977)
- Stein v. Fairfax County School Board
- Butler v. Butler, 219 Va. 164, 247 S.E.2d 353 (1978)
- Mahoney v. NationsBank of Virginia, NA, 455 S.E.2d 5 (1995)
Published Articles
- Family Lawyer Magazine, January 5, 2021
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, May 11, 2020
- March 2018
- October 21, 2013
- October 16, 2013
- August 7, 2013
- June 11, 2013
- May 3, 2013
- March 27, 2013
- September 16, 2012
- The Matrimonial Strategist, April 2012
- The Fee Simple, May 2011
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Page 8, September 5, 2010
Speaking Engagements
- Webinar - 1:00 - 2:30 pm EST, August 7, 2019
News
- August 20, 2020
- May 7, 2020
- August 15, 2019
- April 18, 2019
- August 15, 2018
- April 30, 2018
- August 22, 2017
- April 13, 2017
- August 15, 2016
- April 7, 2016
- September 28, 2015
- August 26, 2015
- August 17, 2015
- April 9, 2015
- August 18, 2014
- June 13, 2014
- Politico, May 9, 2014
- April 25, 2014
- March 10, 2014
- Arlington Sun Gazette, March 8, 2014
- Washingtonian Magazine, October 10, 2013
- August 15, 2013
- June 17, 2013
- LAWS.com, April 30, 2013
- August 23, 2012
- July 2, 2012
- December 2, 2011
- James Korman of Bean, Kinney & Korman recognized by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year in Family LawOctober 21, 2011
- September 9, 2011
- June 23, 2011
- April 4, 2011
- September 27, 2010
- Virginia State Bar, August 31, 2009
- Legal Times, June 5, 2000
Academic Appointments
Adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at George Mason University Law School, 1996 – present.
Professional & Community Affiliations
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Fellow; Certified Matrimonial Arbitrator; Past President, Virginia chapter)
Arlington Bar Association (Past-President)
American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America)
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Virginia State Bar (Former Chair, Committee on Women and Minorities)
Beyond the Suit
When Jim isn’t litigating divorce cases, he enjoys traveling with his wife, attending Redskins games and collecting political campaign buttons. During one of their many trips to Paris, they visited the Rodin Garden where Jim posed with The Thinker statue.