James L. Thompson recently joined the Firm after almost 25 years at the Chicago office of Jenner & Block, where he was a member of its Litigation Department and most recently worked in its Complex Commercial Litigation, Trust & Estate Litigation, Privacy and Information Governance, and Technology Litigation practice groups.
Throughout his career, Jim has gained experience handling major business and contractual disputes. Those matters, in industries such as aircraft manufacturing, technology outsourcing, and energy, typically involve highly complex, technical contracts with large amounts at stake. He also has defended companies facing lawsuits asserting securities law claims and has conducted internal investigations, including responding to federal or state agency or other attorney general subpoenas, and special or audit committee interrogations.
Banks, finance companies and retailers have retained Jim to represent them in consumer class actions related to their secured and unsecured lending practices, account handling, credit reporting and/or consumer collection practices. He is also experienced in defending consumer class actions associated with product performance, product liability, warranty claims, and, in recent years, potential liability arising from privacy data breaches. Representing both national and local clients, Mr. Thompson has experience with state consumer protection laws, predatory lending statutes, credit counseling and debt consolidation laws, along with the federal statutes relevant to consumer credit transactions – TILA, Reg. Z, ECOA, FCRA, FDCPA, RESPA and HOEPA.
Along with representing defendants in consumer class actions relating to lending and finance, Mr. Thompson has extensive experience defending consumer class actions relating to product performance, product liability, and warranty claims. Mr. Thompson has represented appliance manufacturers in product liability and warranty class actions alleging defects in washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and extended warranty products. He has represented a software manufacturer in a class action attacking the functionality of computer synchronization software.
Jim has handled numerous corporate internal investigations, guiding clients through inquiries focused on alleged accounting irregularities, quality control and escapes, and supplier disputes. These investigations have included inquiries responding to federal or state agency or other attorney general subpoenas, special or audit committee interrogations, as well as internal investigations designed to identify product performance issues, internal control deficiencies, or alleged accounting irregularities.
Mr. Thompson also has represented multiple clients accused in class actions of violating the consumer fraud statutes of Illinois, California, and multiple other states. Along with consumer finance and product litigation, He also has substantial experience defending companies facing class action or derivative lawsuits asserting securities law claims, including claims attacking tender offers. In particular, Mr. Thompson has represented parties in class actions and derivative actions involving claims under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and state securities laws. Mr. Thompson has represented a major REIT sponsor and its executives in federal securities litigation attacking REIT-issued proxy statements.
Jim also has frequently represented and counseled trust and estate beneficiaries, along with trustees, executors, and personal representatives, on issues arising out of disputed wills and trusts.
A frequent speaker at seminars and CLE meetings, he has also written extensively about his practice areas.
Jim was named an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2013-2015.
