Jim started private practice at the San Francisco based firm Cooper, White & Cooper (now a part of Womble Bond Dickinson), where he served as co-chair of the litigation department, a member of the management committee, and the founder and managing partner of the Walnut Creek office.  Jim then co-founded Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally, in San Ramon.

Jim was a highly skilled and successful commercial litigator and trial attorney, as well as a peerless rainmaker.  Jim especially excelled in his favored field of employment law, for which he was selected as a Super Lawyer for many years.  Indeed, legend has it that Jim successfully litigated what may have been the very first wrongful termination case to proceed to trial in California.  Throughout his career, Jim represented numerous prominent and national clients such as Safeway Inc., Ross Stores, Federated Department Stores, The Chronicle Group, Farmers Insurance, and Allstate Insurance.  Jim always treated his clients as more than clients but also as friends, which engendered long-term loyalty and friendships that can be rare in the business world.    

Jim is survived by his wonderful wife, Pam, with whom he raised eight great children.  Jim deeply loved his family, and took a lot of pride watching his children and 26 grandchildren perform in theater and sports as they grew.  An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jim stayed heavily involved in the church and his community even after his retirement in 2017, generously volunteering his time and resources to numerous causes, especially for those in need.  Jim was very gregarious and kind-hearted by nature, and could make friends with anyone he met.  Jim will be much missed by everyone here as a partner, colleague, mentor, role model, and most of all, friend.