Profile

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.

"James is responsive and efficient. His attentiveness to business considerations shows significant understanding of the business of insurance."

Qualifications and admissions

  • Illinois
  • US District Court, Western District of Arkansas
  • US District Court, Northern, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois
  • US District Court, Northern and Southern District of Indiana
  • US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • US Bankruptcy Court, Central District of Illinois and state of Illinois

Market recognition

  • Ranked lawyer and notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Dispute Resolution (Illinois)'
    “James Hickey is a respected insurer-side coverage litigator with notable expertise handling a wide variety of disputes. His experience includes claims relating to injury, professional liability and construction, among others.” "James is professional and particularly skilled at matters that tend to be quite complex." "James is responsive and efficient. His attentiveness to business considerations shows significant understanding of the business of insurance."
    Chambers USA 2023
  • Ranked lawyer and notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Dispute Resolution (Illinois)'
    "He provides practical advice in an easy-to-understand format. He knows when to be aggressive and when to massage a situation to reach the optimal result."
    Chambers USA 2022
  • Ranked Lawyer and Notable Practitioner for 'Insurance: Dispute Resolution (Illinois)'
    "James Hickey is a respected insurer-side coverage litigator with notable expertise handling a wide variety of disputes. His experience includes claims relating to injury, professional liability and construction, among others."
    Chambers USA 2021

Work highlights

  • First chaired trials for major property & casualty insurers in declaratory judgment actions regarding coverage for breast implant and asbestos bodily injury claims.
  • First chaired trial and obtained multi-million dollar judgment for major property & casualty insurer in asbestos bodily injury coverage action.
  • First chaired trial and obtained judgment in adversary proceeding in bankruptcy matter involving claims against asbestos product manufacturer debtor.
  • Obtained summary judgments on behalf of construction industry clients in litigation involving defective construction and/or construction site injuries.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of excess insurer with respect to multimillion-dollar contribution claim by primary insurer in connection with thousands of underlying asbestos bodily injury claims.
  • Secured the withdrawal of tenders of claims for coverage in connection with claims for invasion of biometric privacy, defective construction claims, environmental claims, asbestos claims, property claims and general liability claims.
  • Led a team of attorneys in the UK and the US in a cross-border acquisition valued at $21 Million on behalf of a commercial client.
  • Led a team of attorneys in the US, UK and United Arab Emirates in establishing subsidiaries, obtaining employment visas in Dubai for corporate client.

Presentations and publications

  • Co-author, “The rising specter of BIPA claims in Illinois,” published for Kennedys (August 2023)
  • “Russian sanctions: A global view,” In-House Client Training (October 2022)