James McLain, 85, falcon expert, law firm founder

As a Master Falconer, James McLain was entrusted with rehabilitating birds, including a peregrine falcon with a broken wing. The peregrine was an endangered species at the time.

Mr. McLain was proud of his work raising and training hawks and falcons to hunt quarry — and nurturing injured ones — in what once was a pursuit of kings, said his son Tom McLain.

Enlarge this image

Family photo

James McLain earned the designation of Master Falconer for his work with the birds of prey.

“He had one bird, a Harris hawk named Pericles, that was like his fifth son,” his son said.

Mr. McLain, 85, died of heart failure Sunday at his home in Smyrna. The funeral is 11 a.m. Thursday at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Cremation Society of the South is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. McLain was an Atlanta native who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology before going on to law school at the University of Georgia. He began working for C&S Bank before starting the law firm now known as McLain & Merritt with Marvin Shoob in 1957.

During his long law career, Mr. McLain focused on preparing wills and advising clients about trusts and estates. He also advised small- and medium-size businesses, said his son.

“He relished the role of counselor. He liked to help and advise,” said the younger McLain.

Mr. McLain also found ways to lighten the mood for his clients, who were forced to think about their own mortality as they were preparing their wills, said another son, Keith McLain of Alpharetta.

“He would always find a way to turn heavy subjects like that into humor,” he said.

Mr. McLain was known for pulling pranks around the office, such as the time he replaced a partner’s collectible, a full Coca-Cola bottle — from the UGA football championship of 1980 — with an empty one of his own, said Keith McLain.

A long-standing interest in Scottish history and his own Scottish ancestry led to Mr. McLain’s pursuit of falconry, said Keith McLain. As a licensed Master Falconer, he had reached the highest level in the sport.

Mr. McLain also served on numerous boards, including those at Oglethorpe University, Columbia Theological Seminary, the Atlanta Humane Society and the Atlanta Lawyer Foundation.

He was gregarious and was known for enthusiastically recruiting others to serve on boards, said Keith McLain. “He served on those boards, but he also was great at getting other people involved,” he said.

Mr. McLain was a member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and had been a deacon and an elder of the church.

Additional survivors include his wife, Jeanette McLain of Smyrna; a sister, Anne Watson of Lake Oconee; two sons, Pete McLain of Lexington, Ky., and Rod McLain of Portland, Ore.; and 12 grandchildren.