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James J. (“Jay”) Varellas, III

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Toll Free: 877-634-1519
360 E Vine St., Suite 320 Lexington, Kentucky 40507 Phone: 859-252-4473 Fax: 859-252-4476
440 South 7th St., Suite 200 Louisville, Kentucky 40203 Phone: 502-595-7955 Fax: 502-470-2202
525 West Fifth St., Suite 337 Covington, Kentucky 41011 Phone: 859-252-4473 Fax: 859-252-4476

Practice Areas

Prior to joining Varellas & Varellas, Jay practiced as a litigator at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York and Fenwick & West in San Francisco, where he litigated large-scale class actions and other complex litigation matters around the country. While practicing in New York, he was part of the trial team that tried a multi-billion-dollar class action to a jury verdict after a four-month trial in the Southern District of New York. He also has trial experience involving claims of bad-faith denial of insurance claims and personal injury. In addition, Jay has appellate experience before a number of courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court and the Kentucky Supreme Court. He has also provided advice regarding major corporate transactions, advised other law firms on ethics and conflict-of-interest issues, and represented non-profits in a variety of contexts. Immediately after law school, Jay served as a law clerk for Chief Judge Jennifer B. Coffman of the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky. At Varellas & Varellas, Jay leads the Class Action Practice and also handles cases involving personal injury, nursing home neglect and abuse and insurance and consumer fraud.

Jay is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall), where he served as an articles editor for the Berkeley Journal of International Law, and he is also the founding co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Law and Political Economy. Prior to receiving his law degree, Jay completed a master’s degree at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom as a Fulbright Scholar, and he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky. While at UK, he was selected as a Truman Scholar and a Gaines Fellow. Jay has also worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Senate.

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Jay is dedicated to fighting for the rights of individuals who have been injured or wronged by other individuals or corporations.

Education
  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall)
    Law Journal: Berkeley Journal of International Law, Articles Editor
    Activities: American Constitution Society, Co-President
    Activities: Student Advisory Committee on Faculty Appointments, Chair
    Activities: East Bay Community Law Center, Legal Intern
    Activities: East Bay Workers’ Rights Clinic, First-Year Student Volunteer
  • M.A., University of Sussex
    Honors: J. William Fulbright Scholarship, United States Department of State
  • B.A., University of Kentucky
    summa cum laude
    Majors: History and International Development Studies
    Honors: Harry S. Truman Scholarship for Public Service
    Honors: Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion
    Honors: Gaines Fellowship in the Humanities
    Honors: Raymond F. Betts Fellowship
    Honors: Honors Program Crystal Award
    Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
    Activities: UK Presidential Search Committee, Student Representative
    Activities: UK Student Government Association, Senator-at-Large
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
  • Kentucky
  • California
  • New York
  • United States Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
  • U.S. District Courts, Central and Northern Districts of California
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • The State Bar of California
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Gaines Center for the Humanities, University of Kentucky, Board Member
  • British Fulbright Scholars Association
  • Truman Scholars Association

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