James J Hickey

Education

• IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, JD, 1988
• University of Dubuque, BA, 1984

Jim is a partner in the Chicago office and focuses on the representation and counsel of insurance companies in litigation and disputes involving insurance coverage issues. Jim also defends construction industry clients/insureds in litigation involving allegations of defective construction, catastrophic personal injury and/or workplace injury claims. He has also represented automobile manufacturers in complex product liability actions, product manufacturers in toxic tort lawsuits and global food product manufacturers in domestic and international commercial disputes regarding breach of contract/breach of warranty claims and employment disputes. Jim’s practice also includes the representation of corporate clients in commercial litigation, compliance, global sanctions and employment matters. Jim has also served as lead counsel for domestic and international clients in cross-border corporate acquisitions, leading teams in the US and Europe covering a wide range of specialties including corporate, employment law, property and health and safety. Jim regularly advises insurance companies and corporate clients regarding compliance with the US sanctions framework, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws.

Jim has represented insurers throughout the country in a variety of contexts, including the handling of first and third party claims regarding coverage under, inter alia, commercial general liability, builder’s risk, commercial auto, business auto, commercial property, umbrella, excess and surplus lines, professional liability, cyber liability, contractor pollution liability, onsite cleanup and workers’ compensation risk policies, as well as reinsurance disputes. He has provided coverage analysis and has litigated, in court and through mediation and arbitration, cases involving insurance coverage for claims involving catastrophic personal injuries, defective construction and/or workplace injuries, biometrics, mass shootings and/or gun control issues, crypto currency, data breach, sexual abuse, mass tort liability claims (including talc, asbestos, lead paint, latex, breast implants, tobacco, and polybutylene pipes), trucking and auto claims, personal and advertising injury claims, environmental claims, premises liability claims, professional liability and legal malpractice claims, as well as claims involving insurance fraud. Jim also regularly advises insurer clients on policy wording designed to address developing caselaw regarding emerging types of claims. 

Jim has first-chair trial experience in complex coverage litigation and has served as lead negotiator in a variety of complex insurance coverage settlements. He also represents insurers in connection with coverage issues arising in the context of bankruptcy proceedings involving debtors facing overwhelming losses from mass tort liability claims.

Prior to law school, Jim worked in the Chicago office of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations where he participated in investigations of public and judicial corruption and fraud.