JAMES P. DAVEY

Mr. Davey served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office from 1971 through 1976. During his tenure, he was appointed Senior Trial Attorney and successfully prosecuted several highly publicized criminal trials on behalf of the State of Michigan.

During his time at Kemp Klein, Mr. Davey has served as lead counsel in a wide variety of civil matters, including complex construction litigation and federal securities law disputes. He has represented a major television network in matters involving libel, slander, and First Amendment issues. In addition, he has tried cases involving trade secrets, non-compete agreements, trademark infringement, minority oppression, C corporations, contract disputes, franchise matters, employment law, insurance, environmental law, and other business disputes.

Mr. Davey has extensive experience in environmental law, including matters involving the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the federal Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act, and Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA).

He has been involved in both litigation and transactional matters not only in the State of Michigan, but also in Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida. Mr. Davey has consulted extensively with a wide range of clients on transactional matters and has negotiated with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality on numerous occasions.

Mr. Davey’s comprehensive litigation background in both state and federal courts provides him with a unique perspective in counseling clients on complex environmental problems and regulatory issues. His broad business experience enables him to assist clients in acquiring contaminated real estate at reduced values and repositioning those properties into viable business assets.

Since 1980, Mr. Davey has been active in various forms of alternative dispute resolution, serving both as an advocate for clients and as a mediator. He has frequently served as a mediator for both the general and complex contract panels of the Oakland County Circuit Court and has also been appointed to the Wayne County Circuit Court Mediation Panel.

James

Davey maintains an “AV” Peer Review Rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer rating awarded to attorneys.

DBusiness magazine recognized Mr. Davey as a 2025 and 2026 DBusiness Top Lawyer for his work in Litigation – Construction.

Mr. Davey has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition for his work in Commercial Litigation and Construction Litigation.