James F.X. Fahy

Counsel

James Fahy works with corporate and financial institutions in both the European Union and the United States.

James Fahy Portrait

A native of Galway, Ireland, James F.X. Fahy’s practice focuses on issues arising between the United States and the EU, as well as a domestic US practice representing small and midsize companies. His practice focuses on general corporate law with an emphasis on M&A, risk management, employment law, and regulatory compliance.

Outside of his legal practice, Jim is the co-founder of a clinical stage regenerative medicine company in Ireland. He was also the principal shareholder, and Chairman, of an SMO (Site Management Organization) that conducted hundreds of clinical trials across eight sites in the US. Additionally, he served on a number of boards of EU subsidiaries of US and Canadian based companies.

Client Work

Jim has supported a number of commercial ventures in the US and EU. His work includes the following:

  • Represented an Ireland based medical device company from its very early stages through multiple equity infusions, acquisitions, and the ultimate sale to a publicly traded company, as well as providing general counseling to a measurement technology company in Galway
  • Assisted with trade relations on behalf of a former East German state/lander
  • Represented, in its formation, a private college
  • Represented two major Chicago area universities as external general counsel; this work included the acquisition of a law school in an out of state jurisdiction. 
  • Represented two major Irish financial institutions over decades with their US based transactions.

Previous Work

  • Served as general counsel, secretary, and compliance officer for a Chicago based bank holding company and its subsidiaries
  • Served as general counsel for a billion dollar Illinois based S&L
  • Served as the first in-house legal counsel for a major Chicago area university
  • Taught as an adjunct lecturer in law (college of law and college of commerce)

Life Beyond the Law

  • Serves as a volunteer Guardian Ad Litum, Hennepin County, Juvenile Court District
  • A long-term Trustee of the Federal Defender Program (FDP) for the Northern District of Illinois
  • Created a number of student and faculty exchange programs in conjunction with a law school in Ireland and law schools throughout the United States
  • First Chairman of the Chicago based sister city committee with Galway, Ireland
  • Helped organize and lead programs in comparative law on behalf of sections of two US bar associations

Perspectives