You’ve probably seen the name pop up if you’ve been involved in a fender bender or a more serious car accident in New York. Maybe it was on a formal-looking letterhead or a court filing. It sounds like your typical private law firm, right? James F. Butler & Associates sounds like a place where you’d walk in, sit on a leather couch, and hire a lawyer to sue someone.
Honestly, that is the first big misconception.
If you try to "hire" them for your own personal injury case, you're going to hit a wall. Why? Because they don't take outside clients. They aren't a traditional private practice. They are actually what the industry calls "staff counsel." Basically, they are the in-house legal arm for State Farm Insurance.
The Mystery of the Law Firm Inside an Insurance Company
It’s a bit of a weird setup if you aren't familiar with the insurance world. While most people think State Farm just writes checks and sends out adjusters, they actually have entire law firms that work exclusively for them. James F. Butler & Associates is one of those firms.
Located in Jericho, New York, specifically at 300 Jericho Quadrangle, this team doesn't represent the general public. Instead, they represent State Farm's policyholders when those policyholders get sued.
Imagine you’re driving down the Long Island Expressway and you accidentally rear-end someone. If that person sues you, your insurance company (State Farm, in this case) has a duty to defend you. Rather than hiring an expensive outside firm that charges $500 an hour, State Farm sends the case to their staff counsel—James F. Butler & Associates.
How It Actually Works Day-to-Day
These guys are busy. Like, really busy.
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Because they handle a high volume of cases for a single "client" (State Farm), the office functions differently than a boutique law firm. They specialize heavily in insurance defense litigation. This includes:
- Automobile Liability: The bread and butter. Car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian strikes.
- Premises Liability: Slip and fall cases at a home or business insured by State Farm.
- No-Fault Disputes: Handling the complex, often annoying, New York no-fault insurance claims.
They are trial lawyers. Even though many insurance cases settle, the attorneys at James F. Butler & Associates are frequently in the Supreme Courts of Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn. They know the local judges. They know the local "plaintiff" attorneys. This local familiarity is actually one of their biggest strengths.
The "No Billable Hours" Factor
Here is a detail most people don't know: unlike your typical lawyer who lives and dies by the 6-minute increment, these attorneys don't usually bill by the hour.
Since they are employees of State Farm, their goal isn't to rack up hours to make a profit. Their goal is to resolve the case efficiently. For a defendant, this is usually a good thing. It means the lawyer is focused on the strategy of the case—depositions, motions, trials—rather than the administrative headache of billing.
Why You Might See Their Name on Your Paperwork
If you are a State Farm customer and you get served with a summons, you'll likely receive a letter telling you that James F. Butler & Associates has been assigned to your file.
Don't panic.
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It doesn't mean you're in extra trouble. It means your insurance company is moving to protect your assets. The lawyers there act as your personal defense team. Even though State Farm pays their salary, their ethical duty in the courtroom is to you, the policyholder.
On the flip side, if you are the person suing a State Farm driver, James F. Butler & Associates is the "enemy" in the legal sense. They are the ones who will be questioning you at your deposition and looking for reasons why the accident wasn't their client's fault.
Common Confusions and Different James Butlers
The legal world is full of people with the same name. It gets confusing fast.
- James F. Butler IV: There is a well-known attorney in Houston who does business and employment litigation. Not the same guy.
- James F. Butler, III: A construction law expert in Georgia. Also not the same guy.
- The New York James F. Butler: This is the one associated with the Jericho firm. He’s been licensed in New York since 1990 and has decades of experience in the insurance defense niche.
It is easy to get these mixed up when you’re Googling for a phone number or a background check. If you’re looking for the State Farm counsel, you’re looking for the Jericho, NY office.
What to Expect If They Are Representing You
Working with staff counsel is a specific experience. It’s professional and streamlined. You aren't going to get a lot of "fluff." You’ll likely interact with a paralegal for the basic stuff—collecting documents, scheduling your deposition—and then meet with the attorney when it's time for the heavy lifting.
They use a lot of technology. State Farm is a massive corporation, so their legal offices are usually ahead of the curve with digital filing and case management.
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Is Staff Counsel "As Good" as a Private Firm?
This is a debate that’s been going on for years in legal circles. Some people think a private firm is more "prestigious." Honestly? That’s mostly marketing.
The lawyers at James F. Butler & Associates do one thing all day, every day: defend insurance cases. They have seen every trick in the book. While a private lawyer might handle a divorce one day and a car crash the next, these guys are specialists. They have the resources of one of the largest insurance companies in the world behind them.
Actionable Insights for Policyholders and Plaintiffs
If you find yourself dealing with James F. Butler & Associates, here is how to handle it based on which side of the "v" you are on.
If they are your lawyers:
- Be honest. Tell them every detail about the accident, even the parts that make you look bad. They can't defend you if they get surprised at trial.
- Stay responsive. If they call for a "meeting of the minds" or to prep for a deposition, show up. They are there to save you from a personal judgment.
- Understand the "Hybrid" model. Many of these attorneys work in a hybrid capacity now. You might meet them via Zoom rather than driving to the Jericho office.
If they are the opposing counsel:
- Don't underestimate them. Just because they are "insurance lawyers" doesn't mean they aren't top-tier litigators. They are highly trained.
- Expect a thorough investigation. They will look into your medical history, your social media, and your past accidents.
- Be patient. Corporate legal departments move at their own pace. Settlements often happen, but they take time to get through the approval chain.
At the end of the day, James F. Butler & Associates is a massive cog in the New York legal machine. They aren't a firm you go out and hire; they are the firm that appears when the unexpected happens on the road. Understanding that distinction is the first step in navigating your legal situation.