I am a litigator and counselor who focuses on employment law and trade secret/non-compete issues.

Jim concentrates his practice on civil litigation and counseling matters, with an emphasis on employment and trade secret/non-compete issues.

Jim has a depth of experience advising financial services firms and their employees on a wide range of legal issues. He has represented clients before FINRA arbitration panels in cases involving employment, raiding, promissory notes, and sales practices. Jim has also represented financial services industry participants on regulatory and compliance issues and in their interactions with regulatory agencies.

He advises companies in employee defection and general employment matters, including non-compete agreements and the protection of proprietary business information. Jim regularly writes and speaks on new developments in the law regarding non-competes and trade secrets. He is a founder and contributor to the H2 Non-Compete & Trade Secrets Law Blog at non-compete.law.

+ View More

Services

Business Litigation

In courtrooms, agencies, and tribunals across the country, we pursue our clients’ interests–both cost-effectively and with positive results.

Credentials

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School, 1987
    • J.D., cum laude
  • University of Michigan, 1984
    • B.A., with high distinction and high honors

Memberships

  • Chicago Bar Association
    • Securities Law Committee
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Admissions

  • Illinois, 1987
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    • Trial Bar, 1997
    • General Bar, 1991

Professional Achievements

  • Illinois Leading Lawyers: "Leading Commercial Litigation Lawyers," 2023
  • Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2005-2023
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005; 2007
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Successfully defended a financial services firm and an investment adviser representative against a multi-million dollar arbitration claim filed by former customers relating to losses suffered by the customers in the stock market downturn at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Edit
  • Represented a financial services firm in an arbitration against two former employees, obtaining an award of $4.6MM against the employees on loans provided to them by the firm and complete denial of their counterclaims.

    Edit
  • Represented a financial services company in a multi-week arbitration against a group of employees who defected to a competitor, obtaining a high-six figures award against the employees and their new firm and denial of all counterclaims. Edit
  • Successfully defended a startup company in an arbitration brought by its former VP of sales, defeating his claim for unpaid compensation and obtaining an order nullifying his stock rights, and later defeating his attempt to vacate the award in federal court. Edit
  • Successfully defended an individual trustee at a bench trial lasting several weeks in the Circuit Court of Cook County against an accounting claim brought by one of the trust's beneficiaries. Edit

Presentations

  • Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship, University of Chicago Law School, "Non-Compete Basics for Counseling Business Owners," January 7, 2022, Chicago, IL.
  • Securities Arbitration Commentator, "Employment Issues in Securities Arbitration in the Wake of Epic Systems," August 2, 2018, webinar.
  • Chicago Bar Association, Commercial Litigation Committee, "Non-Compete & Trade Secret Cases⁠—Views from Opposite Sides of the Courtroom," February 22, 2017, Chicago, IL.
  • Chicago Bar Association, Financial & Investment Services Committee, "Recruiting in the Financial Services Industry," October 12, 2010, Chicago, IL.
  • Plaza Club, "Keeping It Under Lock and Key: Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets and Employee Duty of Loyalty," October 1, 2006, Chicago, IL.
  • Lorman Education Services, "Protecting What's Yours: Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets and Employee Duty of Loyalty," May 4, 2006, Chicago, IL.
  • Practising Law Institute, 32nd Annual Institute on Employment Law, "Restrictive Covenants: Law and Practice," October 21, 2003, Chicago, IL.