James D. Helenhouse
jhelenhouse@fletcher-sippel.com (email)(312) 252-1501 (Phone) |
|
Jim Helenhouse concentrates in the areas of personal injury and commercial litigation. His practice spans several states, and includes a variety of clients in the railroad industry, including railroads, equipment lessors, repair facilities, and lenders. Jim has also represented clients in several quasi-litigation matters, including proceedings before the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Department of Labor, the Iowa Department of Transportation and the NLRB.
In addition to his extensive litigation practice, Jim has a broad-based corporate practice ranging from providing business management advise to negotiating a variety of transactions and drafting the corresponding documentation, such as leases, joint venture agreements, covenants not to compete, financing documents, STB lien opinion letters, and employment agreements. He also has extensive experience assisting clients with Railroad Retirement Board issues. After practicing transportation law with another firm for several years, in April, 2000, he co-founded the firm of Fletcher & Sippel LLC.
Education
University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois; Juris Doctorate; Summa Cum Laude
University of Illinois Law Review, Champaign, Illinois; Notes and Comments Editor
North Central College, Naperville, IL; BA in English Literature; Summa Cum Laude
Bar Admissions
Illinois
Wisconsin
Iowa
Northern and Central Districts of Illinois
Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
Western District of Michigan
Southern District of Iowa
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court
Presentations & Publications
Diagnosis of a FELA Case, ASLRRA 96th Annual Convention, 2009, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Panel Member: Preemption: Have We Pushed the Envelope Too Far?, 2007 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Rockport, Maine
Diagnosis of Claims in Transportation Accident, Moderator, 78th Annual Meeting of Association of Transportation Law Professionals, 2007, Chicago, Illinois.
Preemption Nuts and Bolts, 2006 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Denver, Colorado
Tips for Managing Claims: What’s New?, 2005 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Biloxi, Mississippi.
Recent Legal Developments: Ayers v. Norfolk Southern & Western and State Farm v. Campbell, 2003 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Napa, California.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Provisions, 2002 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Update on Federal Preemption, 2001 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Park City, Utah
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 2000 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Nashville, Tennessee.
When Are Non-Railroads Subject to Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Tax?, 1999 Seminar on Railroad Retirement Coverage Issues, Chicago, Illinois
Emotional Distress Claims, 1999 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Providence, Rhode Island.
Preemption Overview for Claims Commonly Brought Against Railroads, 1998 Regional Railroad Liability Seminar, Big Sky, Montana