Jim Feeney Selected for Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Jim Feeney, Bloomfield Hills-based Member in Dykema’s Litigation Department, was selected to join the Michigan lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame. As a member of the Hall of Fame’s class of 2020, Feeney will be honored on October 9, 2020, at the publication’s 2nd annual Hall of Fame luncheon and awards ceremony at the Detroit Marriott Troy.

According to Michigan Lawyers Weekly, its Hall of Fame program recognizes Michigan's legal leaders for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership both within and outside of their chosen field. Those selected must have a long-standing commitment to the Michigan Legal community.

Feeney is one of the nation’s most prominent trial attorneys. He regularly tackles high-profile, high-stakes litigation matters as a “go-to” trial attorney for the world's largest companies. During his nearly 50-year career, Feeney has been involved in more than 1,500 cases, 70 of which he has tried to verdict. His experience includes numerous trials of high-stakes matters for the automotive industry, financial institutions, media companies, real estate developers, and equipment leasing and insurance companies. Feeney has successfully tried to defense verdict five state or nationwide class actions seeking billions of dollars in damages from his clients.

Earlier this year, Feeney served as lead trial counsel and successfully defended his client in what is likely to be one of the largest product liability trials of 2020—the case was tried in a very challenging venue for target corporate defendants, Superior Court in downtown Los Angeles, and against a very highly respected plaintiffs lawyer from California.

Feeney was also prominently featured in the premiere episode of the Netflix series Trial by Media, a true-crime docuseries examining some of the most dramatic trials of all time. The first episode of the series focuses on the notorious Jenny Jones case in which Feeney served as lead defense trial and appellate counsel in successfully defending The Jenny Jones Show and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Feeney has held a wide variety of management positions in his career, particularly in the areas of hiring and professional personnel. In 1985 he left Dykema to become Vice President and General Counsel of a highly successful privately-owned equipment leasing company, presiding over a staff of more than 100 employees and lawyers. In 1987 he and Peter Kellett started the firm of Feeney Kellett, which became a 25-lawyer trial boutique firm with offices in California and Michigan. In 2003 Feeney and Kellett rejoined Dykema with most the lawyers and staff from their firm. Kellett is now Dykema’s current Chairman and CEO.

Feeney earned a J.D., cum laude, and B.A. from the University of Michigan.