James H. Burns is an associate of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in its Columbia office, where his practice focuses on business litigation.

Before joining the Firm, Mr. Burns served on active duty in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. While stationed at the Pentagon, he served as deputy legal counsel to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. In that capacity, he provided time-sensitive legal opinions on ethics, complex investigations, and military justice matters to senior Navy executives. He has also served as assistant force judge advocate and operational law attorney for the Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command, and as a prosecutor for the Trial Service Office Southeast. Mr. Burns holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

He is a member of the South Carolina Bar and admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

In 2002, Mr. Burns earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was Editor in Chief of the South Carolina Law Review and a student member of the John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court. In 1996, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from The Citadel.