James Harkness

Biography Jim's practice areas include commercial and business litigation, class actions, federal banking regulation disputes, manufacturing and distributor/subcontractor disputes, trade secret litigation, non-competition litigation, Uniform Commercial Code litigation, military contractor disputes, telecommunications, construction litigation, and employment law, at both the state and federal levels. Jim has participated in jury trials and conducted numerous bench trials, arbitrations and mediations in state and federal court to obtain favorable judgments and directed verdicts. His achievements include dismissal of claims against large corporate entities in the Illinois Supreme Court, dismissals and summary judgment rulings of all claims against large commercial clients in state and federal courts, enforcing copyright entitlements in federal court, obtaining a $900,000 judgment at trial, on counterclaim, with dismissal of all claims against venture capital client in federal court and dismissal of all claims in class action against a billion dollar business, and the successful defense of a manufacturer at trial. He is also a certified arbitrator in DuPage County, Illinois, as well as serving in numerous positions as Chairman of DuPage County Bar Association Committees and as a Director on the Board, and as Section Council on the Illinois State Bar Association. He previously was an active, invited member of the American Inns of Courts, DuPage Chapter.