James F. Smith

Partner

James F. Smith is a partner with Clausen Miller P.C. who concentrates his practice in intellectual property matters, commercial disputes and corporate counseling.  His experience includes trademark, copyright and patent litigation that have focused on ownership of various marks, works and inventions. Jim's practice has included both the prosecution and defense of improper conduct through computer systems and the Internet, including employees' unauthorized access and use of former employer's computer networks, cybersquatting and domain name disputes. Jim has also practiced in several other areas, including legal malpractice, subrogation, first-party property and casualty/liability defense.

Upon graduation from the University of Virginia, Mr. Smith earned an ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  Before commencing active duty, Jim was a teaching assistant for an International Banking and Finance class conducted in London and Paris.  Jim then served four years on active duty with the Air Force in Virginia and West Germany before starting law school at the University of Notre Dame. Jim spent his second year of law school studying at Notre Dame's Matthias Concannon Program of International Law in London, England. During this time, Mr. Smith clerked for a member of the British Parliament.  During law school, Jim clerked for several federal agencies in Washington, D.C., including the Board of Veterans Appeals, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the F.B.I. After graduating in 1989 from Notre Dame, Mr. Smith joined Clausen Miller P.C. as an associate attorney.

Jim has served on a number of committees within Clausen Miller P.C., including its hiring, compensation and mentoring committees. In addition, Mr. Smith is a Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. He attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island from August 1999 through June 2000 and earned an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies. Colonel Smith is assigned as the Mobilization Assistant to the Strategic Planning Directorate at Wright Patterson AFB, OH and deployed to Sarajevo, Bosnia as the Senior Military Advisor to the Commander, Stabilization Forces from July to December 2004.

Please listen to Mr. Smith's recent Sky Radio interview on American Airlines regarding his career.  Click here to listen to Mr. Smith's American Airlines spot on fraud and whistleblower litigation.

Education

  • M.A.,  National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, 2000
  • J.D.,  University of Notre Dame, 1989
  • Matthias Concannon Program International Law, England, 1988
  • B.A.,  German, University of Maryland, 1986
  • B.S.,  Commerce, University of Virginia, 1982

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1989
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania , 1990

Organization Affiliations

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association