Vedder is an international business-focused law firm serving sophisticated clients of all sizes and industries from offices across the U.S. and in the UK and Asia.

A Business Focused Law Firm With a Global Reach | Vedder

General

Jim helps businesses and executives resolve complex commercial, employment, and other disputes, often without the need for litigation but in court or arbitration where necessary. He provides common sense counsel grounded in decades of trial and arbitration experience.

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Jim’s clients include Fortune 50 companies, middle-market companies, and individuals in a variety of industries, including financial services, technology, manufacturing and distributing, and real estate. He represents them across the U.S. in complex commercial matters, including in contractual and related disputes, securities and employment matters, and intellectual property disputes. He regularly advises clients on contract, tort, and regulatory issues with national and cross-border implications, restrictive covenants, trade secrets and software licensing arrangements. He also counsels individuals on employment transition and equity matters.

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Additionally, clients rely on Jim to draft and update commercial and employment agreements, guide them in responding to subpoenas and regulatory inquiries, and represent them in arbitrations and mediation. With minimal disruption, Jim attempts to position his clients for the best possible outcome, whether at the negotiating table or in court or arbitration.

Jim serves as chairman of the board of the UCP Seguin Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting disabled individuals.

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Defended a major financial services company in a commercial contract dispute involving more than $125 million at issue. Navigating the matter through extensive fact and expert discovery, Jim and his team overcame two summary judgment motions of an opponent and positioned the client for a pre-trial resolution that was far below what was originally demanded.

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Represented a major financial services company in a contract dispute with a business partner that involved a month-long jury trial and a request from the plaintiff that the jury award more than $100 million, achieving a complete defense verdict after just 45 minutes of jury deliberation.

Obtained an award, including costs, for a major software vendor in a week-long arbitration with a licensee.

Prevailed in an arbitration for several individuals accused of violating restrictive covenants by a former employer in the financial services industry. The arbitration panel found entirely in the clients' favor and awarded them the costs of arbitration.

Represented a company in the healthcare services adjacent space in several unfair competition matters, obtaining temporary and preliminary injunctions against the defendants' continuing wrongful conduct.

Handled a series of arbitrations for a company and several of its principals involving a business partner, where the clients were both claimants and respondents, resulting in awards for the clients in each of the cases, including an award of attorneys' fees and costs for the clients in one of the cases.

James V. Garvey

James V. Garvey

Credentials

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Affiliations

Recognition

Insights & Events

Vedder Successfully Obtains TRO and Preliminary Injunction for Financial Services Client

26 Vedder Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers

76 Vedder Price Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers® in America

25 Vedder Price Attorneys Recognized in Thomson Reuters 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers

77 Vedder Price Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers® in America

The FTC’s Game-Changing Ban on Non-Competes Takes Effect September 4 Absent Court Intervention

The FTC Adopts Final Rule Banning Employee Non-Compete Agreements

The FTC Adopts Final Rule Banning Employee Non-Compete Agreements

James V. Garvey

Credentials

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Affiliations

Recognition

Insights & Events

Vedder Successfully Obtains TRO and Preliminary Injunction for Financial Services Client

26 Vedder Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers

76 Vedder Price Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers® in America

25 Vedder Price Attorneys Recognized in Thomson Reuters 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers

77 Vedder Price Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers® in America

The FTC’s Game-Changing Ban on Non-Competes Takes Effect September 4 Absent Court Intervention

The FTC Adopts Final Rule Banning Employee Non-Compete Agreements

The FTC Adopts Final Rule Banning Employee Non-Compete Agreements

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