James P. Feeney
Member

Named a 2021 “Litigation Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal James P. Feeney, is a trial lawyer with a national reputation. He has represented corporations and individuals in countless high-stakes trials involving both corporations and individuals. He serves as the go-to trial attorney for some of the world's largest companies.
Jim has been recognized for his successes by invitation only trial organizations such as ABOTA, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. During the course of his 50-year career, Jim has been involved in more than 2,500 cases and tried more than 75 cases to verdict. Jim maintains an active trial practice, including five trials to verdict since 2018. “He is one of the premier auto products lawyers, a tremendous trial lawyer,” clients told Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Jim is also ranked as one of the top four attorneys in Michigan in the 2023 edition of the guide.
“As gifted a trial lawyer as you'll ever meet, and his performance in the courtroom is very impressive.”
-
- University of Michigan, J.D., cum laude
- University of Michigan, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa
-
Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 1971
- Florida, 2002
- California, 2002
-
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
-
-
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
- Arbitration, 2011-2026
- Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2007-2026
- Commercial Litigation, 2006-2026
- Corporate Law, 2012-2026
- Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, 2022-2026
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2020-2026
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2011-2026
-
Named a Nationwide Leading Lawyer in Product Liability: Automobile and a Michigan Leading Lawyer in Litigation: General Commercial by Chambers USA, 2006-2025
-
Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Key Lawyer for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Automotive/Transport, 2018-2019, 2021-2024; Native American Law, 2022; Transport: Rail and Road – Litigation and Regulation 2021
-
Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers® for Personal Injury - Products: Defense, Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense, and Civil Litigation: Defense, 2006-2025
-
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2024, and 2025
-
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2020 and 2025
-
Named a Michigan Leading Lawyer in the areas of Class Action/Mass Tort Defense, Commercial Litigation, Products Liability Defense and Toxic Torts Defense Law by the Leading Lawyers Network, 2014-2017
-
Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's "Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys" List, 2022
-
Named to National Law Journal’s “Litigation Trailblazers” List, 2021
-
Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame Class 2020
- Named Detroit "Lawyer of the Year" for Bet-the-Company Litigation by Best Lawyers® 2014 and 2018
-
Named a Top Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine for Product Liability Litigation, Corporate Law, Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation and Arbitration, 2010-2016 and 2018
- Named a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, 2013-2020
-
Recipient of the 2015 Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Excellence in Defense Award
-
Named to the 2013 BTI Client Service All-Star Team
- Recipient of the 2004 Michigan Trial Lawyer of the Year Award presented by the Michigan Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates
-
-
-
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
-
American Board of Trial Advocates, Advocate
-
Product Liability Advisory Council, Sustaining Member
- Oakland County Bar Association, Fellow
- Michigan, Florida and California Bar Associations
-

210 Dykema Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 and Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch”
Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 210 of its attorneys, in multiple practice…

53 Dykema Attorneys Named to 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that 29 of its attorneys from the firm’s…

Dykema Earns 18 Practice Area Rankings and 35 Individual Rankings in Chambers USA 2025
Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that it received 35 individual attorney…