James Hayes

Associate

James Hayes is an Associate at Border Solutions Law Group, where his practice spans cross-border personal injury litigation and complex U.S. and Canadian immigration and refugee matters. Licensed in Washington State, British Columbia, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, he assists clients whose legal issues and lives cross the Canada–U.S. border.

In his personal injury practice, Mr. Hayes focuses on serious motor vehicle collisions, including multivehicle highway crashes and cases involving commercial transport trucks. He has represented British Columbia residents injured in Washington State and U.S. residents injured in Canada, coordinating liability, coverage, and damages issues across multiple insurers and legal systems. His experience includes resolving high-value claims through mediation and arbitration, including settlements in the high six-figure range, in line with the firm’s dedicated cross-border personal injury practice in Vancouver.

Mr. Hayes also maintains a robust immigration and refugee practice. He represents individuals and families seeking refugee protection, challenging removal orders, and responding to inadmissibility findings in both Canada and the United States. He has appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and has advanced appeals and petitions for review before the Ninth Circuit involving credibility findings, service issues and legal errors in asylum adjudications.

Clients describe Mr. Hayes as client-centred, detail-oriented, and trauma-informed. He prioritizes clear communication, thorough legal analysis and careful preparation, ensuring clients understand their options and the process at every stage. He prepares each matter on the assumption it may proceed to a hearing or appeal.

Mr. Hayes obtained his Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He speaks English and French and has limited working proficiency in Mandarin. Outside of practice, he enjoys reading, playing guitar and walking the city of Vancouver with his spouse.

  • Cross-Border Personal Injury Litigation
  • U.S. Immigration Litigation
  • Canadian Immigration Litigation
  • Refugee Protection
  • Removal Defence
  • Inadmissibility Matters
  • Washington State Bar Association – 2018
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit – 2020
  • Law Society of British Columbia – 2023
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Washington – 2025
  • Former attorney with U.S. and Canadian immigration law firms, with a
    practice focused on asylum, refugee protection, removal defence, and
    appeals
  • Rule 9 Law Clerk at a personal injury firm during law school, gaining early
    experience in civil litigation and insurance disputes
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Washington (2025)
  • Law Society of British Columbia (2023)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2020)
  • Washington State Bar Association (2018)
  • AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association), Washington & Canada Chapters
  • Seattle University School of Law – 2017 (J.D.)
  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro – 2014 (B.A.)
  • English
  • French
  • Mandarin (limited working proficiency)
  • Represented multiple British Columbia residents rear-ended in a multivehicle highway collision in Washington State involving a commercial tractor-trailer, advising on liability, causation, and damages under Washington law. Coordinated claims against multiple insurers and resolved the matter through negotiated settlement at mediation, short of trial.
  • Represented a Canadian resident who suffered life-altering injuries in a motorcycle accident in Washington State caused by an unmarked curb, advancing claims against a government defendant. Navigated a complex and contested settlement involving denial of liability and coverage issues, with expert evidence. Successfully resolved the matter for over USD $500,000.
  • Secured settlement on the eve of arbitration for a parkinglot collision that resulted in ongoing physical limitations and significant lifestyle impacts for the plaintiff. The matter involved disputed causation and future prognosis, and was resolved for over CAD $800,000 through mediation just prior to arbitration.
  • Represented asylum applicants in the United States, including appeals and petitions for review before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, involving challenges to adverse credibility determinations, defects in service of Notices to Appear, and legal errors in asylum adjudications.
  • Successfully represented claimants in Refugee Protection Division proceedings in Canada, including matters involving negative credibility findings and complex countrycondition evidence, and advanced appeals to the Refugee Appeal Division, resulting in positive protection outcomes for clients.