Attorneys

Jim serves as the president and chairman of the Executive Committee based in Wiedner & McAuliffe’s Chicago office. He joined Wiedner & McAuliffe in 1987, focusing his practice on all areas of workers’ compensation defense and employment law. Jim has tried numerous cases before the IWCC, some of first impression. He currently oversees the operations, development and expansion of the firm’s offices throughout the Midwest. Under Jim’s leadership and vision, the firm has more than doubled its size and continues to serve the defense interests of some of the most significant companies in the world whose Midwest presence is substantial.

Jim frequently writes and speaks on workers’ compensation and employment law topics. He has served as a Board Member for the Workers’ Compensation Law Section Counsel and as Co-Editor of the ISBA’s Workers’ Compensation Law Section quarterly newsletter. In 1992, Jim was admitted and sworn in by Justice William Rehnquist as an Attorney and Counselor of the United States Supreme Court. He is rated an AV Preeminent lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.

Jim was elected to two terms as a Trustee in his lifelong hometown, serving from 1999 to 2005. During this time, he chaired both the Economic Development Committee and the Public Safety Committee, which oversee local business growth and development and the operation of the Village Police and Fire Departments. Jim currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Providence St. Mel School, located in Garfield Park on the west side of Chicago. When not managing the firm, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife of more than 31 years and their two daughters.

Education

• J.D., The John Marshall Law School, 1987
• B.A., DePauw University, 1982

Admissions

• Illinois
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

• American Bar Association
• United States Supreme Court
• Illinois State Bar Association (Member, Workers’ Compensation Section)
• Cook County Bar Association