James B. Koch

Over the course of more than three decades as a trial and appellate attorney, GKWW co-founder James B. Koch brought scores of clients to resoundingly successful resolution in both settlement and litigation. Jim’s straightforward, practical approach and comprehensive trial experience conspired to position him as one of the most effective, respected securities and commodities attorneys in the country.

This respect is by no means unfounded. Jim successfully defended over $500 million in claims in state and federal courts across a wide range of entities: individuals; institutional and individual investors; owners; upper management; employees of securities firms and brokerages.

He argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court and briefed a third. Jim also successfully tried hundreds of trials in state and federal court–as well as before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodities Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Futures Association (NFA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). As a lawyer in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit, Jim handled dozens of high-profile jury and bench trials. He was also specially appointed as a special United States Attorney in connection with the prosecution of a former Chicago alderman.

In addition to representing his clients before these regulatory organizations, Jim also counseled them on compliance policies and related issues (such as statutory interpretation of regulatory issues, including fraud and racketeering). For example, Jim obtained a permanent injunction–and a $652,000 judgment–in the Southern District of New York for an international securities firm in a case of first impression brought under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Jim was frequently called into court to deal with the most contentious of divorce cases.

For his successes in these diverse areas, Jim enjoyed membership in Elite Lawyers of America. This distinction is strictly limited to prosecutors and trial lawyers who have tried more than 100 bench and 25 jury trials, argued more than 25 cases in the appellate court, argued before the United States Supreme Court, have practiced law at least 25 years and have successfully tried more than 100 arbitrations and reparations. These are rarefied ranks indeed.

Outside the work he engaged for clients, Jim was a powerful voice in the sphere of higher education. Having earned several degrees (an undergraduate degree from Loyola University, a law degree from the IIT-Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Master’s Degree in Education from Northwestern University), he was passionate about contributing to the growth of the next generation of attorneys. He served as an adjunct trial advocacy professor at Northwestern University School of Law and taught part-time at the Northwestern University Graduate School of Education and Social Policy (as well as The Latin School).