James K. Trefil

James is counsel in the firm’s Consumer Financial Services practice, with a primary focus on financial services litigation. His practice includes the representation of clients in federal and state court, both at the trial and appellate level, with a focus on areas of complex litigation, financial services litigation, and consumer litigation. James has represented clients within these areas in a wide variety of litigation matters involving class actions, contracts, torts, and federal and state consumer protection laws.

James has experience in all phases of complex litigation, including serving as lead trial counsel in federal and state court, where he has secured both jury verdicts and defense judgments for his clients. He has also served as counsel in successful appeals before the Supreme Court of Delaware and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Before joining the firm, James was a litigation partner in the Washington-based firm, where his practice included securities and intellectual property litigation, employment defense, and noncompetition litigation, as well as general commercial and business litigation. While at the firm, James also served as court-appointed custody and visitation dispute mediator for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

James has also served as special counsel for the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight with regard to a regulatory enforcement action against Freddie Mac, and as special counsel working on behalf of the Claims Administrator for the Court’s Settlement Program arising from the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill multidistrict litigation.

• Counsel for major pharmaceutical corporation in securities class action litigation, where he successfully defended against the plaintiff’s appeal in oral argument before the Delaware Supreme Court.
• Counsel for a number of universities, law schools, and medical schools in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, successfully defending them against employment discrimination litigation arising from the tenure review process.
• Counsel for a number of technology corporations in employment-related litigation arising from noncompetition covenants.
• Counsel for a number of clients in administrative matters relating to intellectual property issues before the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
• Counsel for a major pharmaceutical corporation in action seeking preliminary injunctive relief arising from competitor’s unfair competition and trade practices with respect to the marketing and distribution of thyroid medication.
• Counsel for a major electronics manufacturer in preliminary injunction proceedings relating to unfair competition and breach of noncompete provisions in distributorship agreements.
• Counsel for a major medical products manufacturer in trade secret litigation.