Chidi I. James

Principal

cjames@bklawva.com

d. 703-362-8927
o. 703-691-1235
f. 703-691-3913

Chidi I. James

Attorney Chidi I. James is an AV-rated attorney and a partner with the law firm of Blankingship & Keith, P.C. in Fairfax Virginia.

His practice consists mostly of serious personal injury cases including wrongful death, products liability, and inadequate security cases. 

Mr. James joined Blankingship & Keith as an associate in 2003, after serving as a Judicial Law Clerk to the judges of the Arlington County Circuit Court and completing the Judge Advocate General School Course at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. In December 2022, Chidi retired from the Air National Guard after 25 years of service.

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Mr. James holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas A&M (1997) in Sociology and a Juris Doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law (2001). As a law student, Mr. James was the founding member of the George Mason University Trial Advocacy Association, where he continued to serve as Trial Team coach for many years. 

Mr. James is married to local psychologist, Dr. Faith Jackson James, and has three children.

Practice Areas

Credentials

Education
  • George Mason University School of Law (2001)
  • Texas A&M University (1997)
Bar Admissions
  • Virginia State Bar, 2001
  • District of Columbia, 2002
  • Eastern District of Virginia, 2003
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 2003

Clerkships

  • Alper, Kendrick, Sheridan and Newman - Arlington County Circuit Court

Professional Honors & Activities

Professional Honors

  • Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell (2013-present) 
  • Virginia Access to Justice Commission - Pro Bono Honor Roll (2025)
  • Forbes Magazine - Best in State (Virginia) for Civil Litigation (2025)
  • Virginia Business Magazine - Virginia 500 Power List (2023)
  • Washingtonian Magazine - Washington’s Best Legal Minds (2011), Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers (2020-2024) and Lifetime Lawyer (2022)
  • U.S. News - Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiff and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiff (since 2012) 
  • Super Lawyers, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Washington, DC and Virginia (2014-2025)
  • Northern Virginia Magazine, Personal Injury - Plaintiff (2022-2023)
  • Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2007-2013)
  • Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Personal Injury (2020) 
  • Virginia Business Magazine, Legal Elite - Legal Services Pro Bono (2021-2024) 
  • Arlington Magazine, Top Attorneys – Legal Aid/Pro Bono (2021-2023) and Personal Injury (2022)
  • Virginia Living Magazine, Legal Eagles - Most Respected Attorneys in the Commonwealth (2012) 
  • Richmond Magazine, Outstanding Young Lawyers - Rising Star (2009) 
  • Richmond Magazine, Top Young Attorneys in Virginia - Rising Star (2008) and Top Virginia Lawyers - Rising Star 2007 

 

Professional Activities

  • Old Dominion Bar Association Foundation, Board Member (Former Board President)
  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Board Member
  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Board Member (former board president)
  • Virginia Law Foundation Fellow
  • Old Dominion Bar Association Foundation, Fellow
  • Fairfax Law Foundation Fellow
  • Fairfax Law Foundation Board Member
  • Former President, Virginia State Bar
  • Former President, Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association 
  • Board member, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association 
  • Former Vice-Chair, Virginia State Bar’s Standing Committee on Lawyer Discipline 
  • Member of the Virginia State Bar’s Fifth District Disciplinary Committee
  • Former faculty member, Virginia State Bar Henry L. Carrico Professionalism Course 
  • Former adjunct faculty member, George Washington School of Law, Washington, DC.

Representative Cases

Personal Injury

Sex Abuse Victims

Community Service

  • Member, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
  • Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
  • Member, Board of the Gainesville Basketball Association
  • Member, Board of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Community Development Corporation
  • Volunteer coach, multiple youth sports teams
  • Board Member and Co-Chair, Gabriel James Memorial Scholarship Committee
  • Coach and Mentor, Battlefield High School Mock Trial Team
  • Board Member, 1st Stage Theatre