James P. Fieweger - Partner

Back to all Attorneys

Biography

James P. Fieweger is a partner of Williams Montgomery & John Ltd., and a member of the firm's commercial litigation and white collar defense and investigations practice groups. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, including professional and product liability defense, and on the representation of individuals and corporations in state and federal investigations. He is "AV Preeminent" peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.

Mr. Fieweger joined the firm in 2009 after practicing as a partner at a national law firm and serving as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois.

In private practice, Mr. Fieweger has represented both corporations and individuals in state and federal criminal matters, including defending a nursing home charged with criminal neglect. He has participated in corporate internal investigations, including the investigation of one of the nation's largest debt collection businesses. Mr. Fieweger also has represented individual defendants in professional negligence matters and corporate defendants in product liability and mass tort cases. His clients have included manufacturers of medical products such as intravenous ports and orthopedic screws and industrial products such as scissor lift devices. In addition, Mr. Fieweger served as the attorney primarily responsible for coordinating all asbestos litigation in Northern Illinois and Iowa on behalf of a leading manufacturer of power generating equipment.

While at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. Fieweger prosecuted international drug trafficking cases, money laundering cases and a variety of other matters. He tried numerous cases to verdict, including insider trading and wire fraud cases, and argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He also represented the government in False Claims Act and other fraud actions, as well as wrongful death and medical malpractice claims.

Education/Bar Admissions

Mr. Fieweger received a B.A. in English and sociology in 1986 from the University of Notre Dame. He received his J.D., cum laude, in 1991 from DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Mr. Fieweger also has served as an adjunct professor teaching clinical trial practice at DePaul.

Mr. Fieweger was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1991 and also has been admitted to the following federal trial and appellate courts:

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including the trial bar)
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, District of Iowa
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

Professional Activities

Mr. Fieweger is active in various professional and civic organizations, including:

  • American Bar Association
  • Seventh Circuit Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute, Government Enforcement and Corporate Compliance Steering Committee
  • Namaste Charter School, Board of Directors

Mr. Fieweger has published articles on a variety of topics and is co-author of two chapters in the IICLE Handbook on Federal Criminal Practice.

  

Representative Matters

  • ABN AMRO Services Company v. Navarete Industries

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Helped prosecute claims on behalf of ABN AMRO against a former bank employee and the bank's security contractor accused of running a fraudulent kickback scheme.

  • Graves v. Martin

    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
    Represented the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a sensitive employment dispute with a former bankruptcy judge in the Eastern District of Michigan.

  • International Defense Contractor Investigation
    Conducted an internal investigation that cleared a defense contractor of potential claims of wrongdoing. The investigation revealed that bid letters stating inflated prices for weapons systems were prepared by foreign defense ministry officials and not by the client.
  • State of Illinois v. Care Centers, Inc.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Defended Care Centers, Inc., operator of long-term care facilities, against allegations that one of its nursing homes had criminally neglected a patient.

  • United States ex rel Holbrook v. W.W. Grainger

    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
    Defended W.W. Grainger, a Fortune 500 industrial supply company, in False Claims Act case and related investigation. Lawsuit arose out of alleged failure to comply with Trade Agreements Act in connection with a schedule supply contract with the General Services Administration.

  • United States v. Evans

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Prosecuted a securities fraud case resulting in conviction on federal insider trading and other securities fraud charges.

  • United States v. Sheth

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Defended physician in health care fraud prosecution arising out of phantom billing and up-charging scheme, as well as related civil False Claims Act case.