Graham & James LLP was a law firm. It was founded as Graham & Morse by Chalmers Graham and Clarence Morse in San Francisco in 1934. Morse left the firm to become chair of the Federal Maritime Commission,^[1] and Leonard James, a maritime lawyer who had become friends with Graham and Morse while working for the War Shipping Administration during World War II, became a name partner.^[2] The firm was originally a small firm focused on the maritime industry.^[3]

The firm was active in Asia as early as the 1950s, when it sent one of its lawyers to Tokyo.^[3] It formed a strategic alliance with the Deacons law firm in Hong Kong and the Price Sanond law firm in Bangkok, operating in Asia under the collective name "Deacons Graham & James."^[4]

With the bulk of its practice focused on the Pacific Rim, Graham & James was severely affected by the Asian economic crisis of the 1990s. By then, it was primarily an intellectual property and technology firm, with California and Asian offices.^[5] Graham & James attempted to merge with the New York firm of Reid & Priest in 1991,^[6] and also had a partnership with the Seattle law firm of Riddell Williams from 1995 to 1999.^[7] As of June 1999 it had around 340 attorneys.^[1] The alliance with Deacons dissolved in June 2000, with Deacons backing out due to G&J's failure to commit resources to Asia and dwindling position in US law firm rankings.^[8]

In June 2000, it effected two transactions. Reflecting internal divisions among its partners and affiliates, most partners in the California, Tokyo and Beijing offices of the firm merged with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey,^[9][10] while the New York office, largely devoted to pharmaceutical patent prosecution, merged with Greenberg Traurig.^[5][11]