James Hickey

Practice Areas

Environmental

Fraud

High net worth

Product liability and product safety

Professional liability

Property damage

Insurance coverage

International sanctions

Employers' liability

General liability

Corporate and commercial

Commercial disputes

Commercial, IT and outsourcing

Corporate / M&A

Employment

Construction

Insurance transactions and advisory

Sustainability and Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)

Construction and engineering

Insurance and reinsurance

Career

Jim is a partner in our Chicago office and sits on the firm’s Governance Group, which ensures robust decision-making across Kennedys leadership.

A respected litigator, he focuses on the representation and counsel of insurance companies in litigation and disputes involving insurance coverage issues. He has extensive experience handling insurance coverage disputes nationwide, including first- and third-party claims related to commercial liability, property, auto, professional liability, cyber risk, environmental issues, and reinsurance.

Jim has first-chair trial experience in complex coverage litigation and has served as lead negotiator in a variety of complex insurance coverage settlements. His coverage litigation experience spans claims involving catastrophic injuries, mass shootings, defective construction, mass torts, as well as emerging risks like biometrics and cryptocurrency, and policy wording. 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.

Jim counsels foreign and domestic insurers and corporations regarding on the application of US sanctions, tariffs and other regulations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and anti-corruption laws. He serves as the head of Kennedys’ US offices’ sanctions/tariffs practice.

Jim also defends construction industry clients/insureds in litigation involving allegations of defective construction, catastrophic personal injury and/or workplace injury claims. Jim represents global food companies in domestic and international commercial disputes. He also advises corporate clients on commercial litigation, compliance, and employment matters. As lead counsel in cross-border acquisitions, he has led teams across the US and Europe, in matters involving corporate, employment, property, and health and safety law.

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, as well as communications on Bureau operations.

Publications

Co-author, “US Tariffs: the regulatory landscape, impact on trade and strategic guidance for clients in the commercial, maritime and insurance sectors,” published for Kennedys (May 2025)

Co-author, “The rising specter of BIPA claims in Illinois,” published for Kennedys (August 2023)

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.

Awards