Jim Reeder is an accomplished trial lawyer who focuses on complex commercial litigation and antitrust. He represents clients across multiple industry sectors, including chemical, health care, commercial aviation, energy, and entertainment. Jim often takes the lead in cases involving multiple defendants and credits his pragmatic approach as being key to achieving positive results for clients. A former investment banker, Jim combines advocacy skills with an understanding of complex financial and economic issues.
Jim has tried cases involving claims of price-fixing, group boycott, exclusive dealing, tying, monopolization, discriminatory pricing, and conspiracy. He also has handled matters and tried cases involving claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, RICO, breach of fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices, and violations of federal and state securities laws.
Jim's notable victories prior to joining Jones Day include successfully representing a producer of Akaushi Beef against claims of conspiracy to restrain trade and monopolization in the premium beef market in the United States. After a seven-day trial, the jury found in favor of the client, awarding actual and exemplary damages on the client's counterclaims. In addition, he achieved favorable outcomes for a global manufacturer of titanium dioxide that had been facing multiple lawsuits stemming from antitrust allegations of price-fixing in the titanium dioxide industry.
Jim has been recognized repeatedly in The Legal 500 US and Chambers USA, which called him "extraordinarily competent and committed" (2019).
Jim recently served as chair of the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, putting him at the helm of the country's largest organization of litigators.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Antitrust
Successfully represented a producer of Akaushi Beef against claims of conspiracy to restrain trade and monopolization in the market for premium beef in the United States. After a seven-day trial, serving as lead lawyer, the jury found in favor of the client, awarding actual and exemplary damages (S.D. Tex.).
Represented a global manufacturer of titanium dioxide in matters pertaining to ongoing titanium dioxide antitrust litigation. Served as lead in: (i) the case brought by an alleged class of direct purchasers of titanium dioxide that alleged that the client and others conspired to fix the prices of titanium dioxide sold in the United States during a certain time period (D. Md.); (ii) the case brought by an alleged nationwide class of indirect purchasers of titanium dioxide (N.D. Cal.); and (iii) the opt-out cases from the direct purchaser class action case (secured summary judgment for the client) and the indirect purchaser class action case (S.D. Tex. and N.D. Cal.).
Served as lead in the representation of a global pharmaceutical manufacturer against claims of attempted monopolization and group boycott in the allergy testing market (S.D. Tex.).
Represented an unconventional oil and gas exploration and production company in an action brought by a foreign national over the facilities of a fertilizer plant in Australia. Successfully defeated personal jurisdiction (S.D. Tex.).
Served as lead and obtained dismissal of antitrust claims brought against a major commercial air carrier against class action and opt-out claims of conspiracy and price-fixing regarding travel agent commissions (N.D. Ohio).
Served as lead in the defense of a major specialty chemical company against class action price-fixing and antitrust conspiracy claims (S.D. Tex.).
Served as lead in the defense of a major exploration and production company against exclusive dealing and monopolization claims, which were favorably settled on behalf of the client (E.D. La.).
Served as lead in the defense of a major exploration and production company against antitrust conspiracy claims involving employee drug testing and secured motion to dismiss in favor of the client (D. Colo.).
Served as lead in the defense of a major television programming and distribution company against antitrust claims of block booking, which was favorably settled on behalf of the client (S.D. Tex.).
Served as lead in the defense of a hospital in an arbitration against antitrust claims arising from the implementation of a sole provider agreement for anesthesia and radiology services (S.D. Tex.).
Served as lead in the representation of a health care system in private civil lawsuits brought by physicians that alleged Section 1 violations associated with the implementation of new credentialing requirements that resulted in the termination of medical staff privileges for the two plaintiffs. Both lawsuits settled favorably on behalf of the client (Tex. Dist.).
Served as lead in the representation of a hospital against claims of monopolization and attempted monopolization involving the operator of an outpatient surgery center (Tex. Dist.).
Commercial & Business Litigation
Served as lead in the representation of the plaintiff, a major specialty chemical company, in a breach of contract lawsuit related to industrial multiyear gas supply agreements (La. Dist.).
Tried case, as lead, on behalf of a motorcar racing company and an individual in an attempted dissolution of the corporation. The court found in favor of the client (Del. Ch.).
Successful prosecution, as lead, of claims at trial by a major coal producer claiming breach of contract related to a contract mining agreement. Judgment issued in client's favor (Bankr. E.D. Ky.).
Successfully tried case on behalf of global specialty chemical company seeking damages from failed merger, establishing current law on the application of Material Adverse Change provisions (Del. Ch.).
Defended a national accounting firm in class action shareholder litigation, which alleged that the accounting firm committed securities fraud, and in a related SEC investigation. Obtained dismissal with prejudice of the securities fraud claims, and the SEC took no action against the client (S.D. Tex.).
Successful arbitration, as lead, on behalf of an exploration and production company against claims of breach of contract and wrongful termination of a deepwater offshore exploration project.
Served as lead for a major commercial airline in an arbitration proceeding concerning a contract dispute with one of its spin-offs in which the company reduced its rates by more than $14 million; obtained judgment in favor of client.
Served as lead in the representation of outside directors of a Fortune 100 company in shareholder derivative litigation that alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with FCPA violations (Tex. Dist.).
Served as lead in the defense of a Big Four accounting firm in a confidential arbitration proceeding that involved claims by the heirs of a former partner concerning the sale of the firm's consulting arm. Obtained a unanimous take-nothing arbitration award.
Government Investigations & White Collar
Served as lead in the representation of a hospital plan in response to a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) issued by the Texas Office of Attorney General (OAG). The Demand concerned the provision of allergy and immunology services within the state of Texas and the Texas OAG's investigation into potential antitrust violations within that market.
Served as lead in the representation of hospitals before the DOJ and Texas Attorney General in an investigation relating to certain policies of the hospital and physician health organization.
Served as lead in the representation of a hospital in a DOJ investigation of a rural hospital with regard to claims of monopolization and attempted monopolization.
Served as lead in the representation of a major oil and gas producer in response to separate investigations by the Attorneys General of Texas and Louisiana regarding alleged anticompetitive conduct in the administration of drug testing services for workers on offshore oil and gas producing facilities. After responding to requests for documents and providing interviews, the AGs separately closed their investigations without taking any action against the client.
- The University of Texas (J.D. with honors 1989); Harvard University (A.B. with honors 1984)
- Texas; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, and Fifth Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas and District of Colorado; and U.S. Court of Claims
- Recognized numerous times in the areas of antitrust and of commercial and M&A litigation in: Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Best Lawyers in America (including "Lawyer of the Year"), Benchmark Litigation (including "Local Litigation Star" in Texas), and Texas Super Lawyers