James Hurst

Ranked in 4 Practice Areas

Band 1

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation

USA - Nationwide

7 Years Ranked

Band 1

Litigation: Trial Lawyers

USA - Nationwide

8 Years Ranked

Band 1

Intellectual Property

Illinois

15 Years Ranked

Band 1

Litigation: General Commercial

Illinois

9 Years Ranked

Ranked in Guides

Global 2025

About

Provided by James Hurst

USA

Practice Areas

Jim Hurst is a trial lawyer who served on Kirkland’s Executive Committee. He’s been trying cases for over 30 years, including patent, products liability, trade secret, antitrust, fraud, and contract cases. He's also argued dozens of appeals including before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is one of only three lawyers honored twice in The American Lawyer’s biannual "Litigator of the Year” contest—the first for eight straight trial wins and the second for six straight trial wins. His trial wins are regularly reported in the press, including a 2019 American Lawyer articled entitled “Kirkland’s Hurst Wins, And Then He Wins Some More--How Does He Do It?” Benchmark recently named him “Trial Lawyer of the Year.”

Personal

University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1989 cum laude; University of Delaware, B.S., 1986 magna cum laude

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

USA

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation - USA - Nationwide

Band 1

Individual Editorial

James Hurst has extensive experience in litigating life sciences disputes, even up to the US Supreme Court, and includes matters relating to trade secrets and patents, antitrust and product liability, contracts and criminal cases.

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Litigation: General Commercial - Illinois

Band 1

Individual Editorial

James Hurst has deep expertise within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, drawing on longstanding experience as a civil trial lawyer.

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Litigation: Trial Lawyers - USA - Nationwide

Band 1

Individual Editorial

James Hurst is widely revered as a stellar trial lawyer for complex patent cases, regularly acting on behalf of clients in the life sciences space. He is based in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis.

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Intellectual Property - Illinois

Band 1

Individual Editorial

James Hurst is an esteemed trial attorney with longstanding expertise in patent infringement cases. He represents clients in matters involving medical technologies, biosimilars and generic drugs as well as related branding issues.

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Contributions

Latest contributions provided by James Hurst

Global Practice Guide

Life Sciences & Pharma IP Litigation 2025
USA | Law and Practice

Authored by

Jim Hurst, Sam Kwon, Ashley Ross, Jeanna Wacker

Article • Dec 2024

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

"Jim hurst is best trial lawyer I have ever seen stand up in a courtroom. He is smart, practical and aggressive."

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation respondent
USA

"He has an uncanny ability to simplify really complex commercial and patent matters and present them with clarity. No one is better in front of a jury."

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation respondent
USA

"Jim is the best trial lawyer I have worked with, period. He can handle any kind of case."

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation respondent
USA

"James is one of the best litigators in the country. He's the most strategic trial lawyer and has an uncanny ability to simplify complex commercial matters and present them with clarity."

Litigation: General Commercial respondent
USA

"James is top notch."

Litigation: General Commercial respondent
USA

"James is a very talented lawyer, highly regarded by clients. He's a great trial lawyer and looks out for his colleagues which is admirable."

Litigation: Trial Lawyers respondent
USA

"Jim hurst is best trial lawyer I have ever seen stand up in a courtroom. He is smart, practical and aggressive."

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation respondent
USA

"He has an uncanny ability to simplify really complex commercial and patent matters and present them with clarity. No one is better in front of a jury."

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation respondent
USA

"Jim is the best trial lawyer I have worked with, period. He can handle any kind of case."

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation respondent
USA

"James is one of the best litigators in the country. He's the most strategic trial lawyer and has an uncanny ability to simplify complex commercial matters and present them with clarity."

Litigation: General Commercial respondent
USA

"James is top notch."

Litigation: General Commercial respondent
USA

"James is a very talented lawyer, highly regarded by clients. He's a great trial lawyer and looks out for his colleagues which is admirable."

Litigation: Trial Lawyers respondent
USA

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California

Banking & Finance

Brian Ford

Band 3

James Hurst

USA Guide 2024

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation + 3 more rankings

About

Practice Areas

Personal

Chambers Review

USA

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation - USA - Nationwide

Individual Editorial

Litigation: General Commercial - Illinois

Individual Editorial

Litigation: Trial Lawyers - USA - Nationwide

Individual Editorial

Intellectual Property - Illinois

Individual Editorial

Contributions

Latest contributions provided by James Hurst

Strengths

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