James J. Rodgers

Overview

Clients rely on James J. Rodgers for seasoned judgment and strategic clarity in complex antitrust and commercial litigation. Jim is known for helping clients navigate high-stakes disputes with perspective gained from decades of trial, appellate, and leadership experience.

James J. Rodgers is a partner at Dilworth Paxson LLP and chair of the firm’s Antitrust Practice Group. For decades, Jim has litigated complex commercial cases at both the trial and appellate levels across the country, including matters involving antitrust, intellectual property, contract disputes, fraud claims, class actions and bankruptcy issues. Clients and colleagues count on him for strategic discipline, careful analysis and the ability to see how individual decisions affect the trajectory of a case. His experience representing Fortune 500 companies, private businesses, public entities and individuals allows him to approach disputes with both legal depth and practical perspective.

Over the course of his career, Jim has tried cases in federal and state courts nationwide and handled appeals in significant antitrust and intellectual property matters. He is particularly attentive to building cases with an eye toward appellate review, ensuring that arguments are framed effectively from the outset. Clients often turn to him when disputes involve complicated legal frameworks or require coordination across multiple jurisdictions. In addition to his litigation practice, Jim served for many years as chair of the firm’s Ethics Committee, advising lawyers within the firm and representing attorneys in disciplinary matters, experience that reinforces his thoughtful and principled approach to advocacy.

Jim approaches complex disputes with the perspective of someone who has seen matters evolve through every stage of litigation. He believes that careful preparation, intellectual rigor and mentorship within litigation teams ultimately benefit clients. As chair of the Antitrust Practice Group and as an adjunct professor teaching antitrust law, he invests in developing the next generation of lawyers while guiding teams through sophisticated matters. When clients face uncertainty, they often seek his counsel not only on the strength of their claims, but on how best to position the case for long-term success. Jim helps them move forward with clear strategy, disciplined advocacy and the benefit of decades of experience. He has also maintained a longstanding commitment to community leadership, including service as president of the Board of the Philadelphia Children’s Foundation and as president of Crescent Boat Club of Philadelphia, where he represented the club as a delegate to the Board of the Schuylkill Navy.