Perspectiva General

James M. Witz is a trial lawyer who has experience with a wide range of employment issues. He is widely recognized for his knowledge in the area of non-competition and trade secret disputes, and cases involving emergency and injunctive relief. He is the co-chair of the firm's Unfair Competition and Trade Secret Practice.

Jim has obtained multiple seven figure trial verdicts in high-profile trade secret and restrictive covenant cases in courts around the United States. Jim successfully argued a trade secret matter before a Florida state court jury receiving a total judgment of approximately $2.4 million. In addition, he secured a $1.9 million verdict after a bench trial before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In addition, in 2015, after a one week jury trial, Jim obtained a $2.1 million verdict in Minnesota state court on behalf of his client, one of the largest verdicts ever awarded in a restrictive covenant matter in that state, as well as an award of attorneys’ fees. The case was settled prior to appeal with payment of the judgment in full as well as substantial attorneys’ fees.

Jim routinely handles significant emergency and preliminary injunction matters, including some of the more notable restrictive covenant and trade secret matters that have been filed in Illinois for both the prosecution and defense side. For example, on behalf of a Fortune 500 company, Jim successfully obtained emergency injunctive relief in Illinois state court against a departing top executive based on trade secret, fiduciary duty and restrictive covenant claims, including claims under both Texas and Illinois law. Similarly, Jim successfully defended restrictive covenant and trade secret claims on behalf of a senior executive of one of the nation’s largest data companies, obtaining both a denial of a request for preliminary injunctive relief and also a dismissal order invalidating the executive’s restrictive covenant agreement.

Jim has argued restrictive covenant and trade secret matters before the nation’s higher courts as well, obtaining rulings that have been frequently cited in subsequent opinions. Jim successfully convinced the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that a Texas district court had misapplied applicable Texas trade secret law as well as the federal standard for injunctive relief and obtained an order reversing the District Court’s denial of a preliminary injunction.

Jim’s clients have included some of the nation’s largest and most successful companies, as well as smaller businesses and start-ups in a variety of industries, including insurance brokerage, data and advertising, printing, professional services and consulting, staffing and recruiting, large equipment manufacturing, medical devices and technology, software and food service and ingredients.

Furthermore, Jim counsels clients throughout the country regarding employee hiring, termination and related matters, including the drafting and implementation of effective employment agreements, confidentiality policies and restrictive covenants. He has led internal investigations of senior employees for multiple clients.

Jim is a frequent speaker on restrictive covenant and trade secret matters, and has authored or contributed commentary on such matters for leading legal publications.

Complementing his unfair competition and trade secrets practice, Jim also has extensive experience in commercial employment litigation and contract matters, as well as in more standard employment litigation claims involving:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Reconocimiento

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2025

Recipient, Haight, Brown and Bonesteel Award

UCLA School of Law

News, Analysis & Press

The Global Guide Quarterly (Quarter 2, 2024)

Global Guide Quarterly

July 24, 2024

The Littler Annual Employer Survey 2024

Littler Report

May 8, 2024

Pending noncompete ban raising concerns

Business Insurance

February 1, 2023

FTC Proposes Rule Banning Non-Competes

Insight

January 5, 2023

The importance of computer forensics in trade-secret litigation

Westlaw Journal Intellectual Property

Thomson Reuters

October 17, 2012

Drafting and enforcing restrictive covenants: Important dos and don'ts

Westlaw Journal Intellectual Property

Thomson Reuters

August 22, 2012

Non-Competition and Trade Secret Advisor

Firm Newsletter

December 16, 2010

Non-Competition and Trade Secret Advisor

Firm Newsletter

May 25, 2010

Sunbelt Rentals: Are Restrictive Covenants Becoming More Enforceable in Illinois?

FlashPoint Series

Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE)

April 1, 2010

Speaking Engagements

Are Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets in Jeopardy? Updates and a Practical Plan for the Future

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

Seven Key Developments and Recommendations Affecting Your Restrictive Covenant Agreements and Unfair Competition Strategy

The 2017 Executive Employer® Conference

May 11, 2017

Unfair Competition Litigation and Electronic Information: Proactive Measures to Protect Your Secrets and Navigate Electronics

Chicago, IL

March 5, 2014

Safeguarding The Secrets of Your Success: Latest Developments in Trade Secret and Non-Competition Law

Firm Presentation, Chicago, IL

September 22, 2011

Educación

  • J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
  • B.A., Wesleyan University

Admisión de la barra

Illinois
Colorado

Cortes

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois