James R. Saywell (Jim)

Partner

Cleveland + 1.216.586.7108

Connect:

Share

Jim Saywell, a former law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, develops litigation strategies and implements them through briefing and oral advocacy at every stage of a case. Jim solves significant legal questions in complex cases, with a particular focus on appellate advocacy and critical motions practice.

Although his substantive practice varies, Jim has special experience with class actions, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and constitutional, statutory, and contract interpretation. He has drafted merits and amicus briefs and argued cases at all levels of federal and state courts — from state supreme courts and federal appellate courts to state and federal trial courts.

In addition to serving as a Supreme Court clerk prior to joining Jones Day, Jim clerked for Judges Jeffrey Sutton and David McKeague at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, where he worked on criminal and civil cases including constitutional cases and matters involving civil procedure and the federal courts. Jim, who is passionate about the City of Cleveland, also serves on the board for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.

Experience

  • Employer obtains rare rehearing of order denying interlocutory appealIn a rare move, a Seventh Circuit panel granted Jones Day's petition for rehearing of an earlier order that declined to take up an interlocutory appeal by Eli Lilly & Company.
  • Major appliance manufacturer prevails in Third Circuit on misrepresentation claimsOn appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Jones Day successfully defended a major appliance manufacturer in a class action alleging that the appliance manufacturer had misrepresented the energy savings from three models of its washing machines.
  • Saleem Hakim defeats federal government petition for certiorariAfter having obtained vacatur of a conviction at the Eleventh Circuit, Jones Day on behalf of Saleem Hakim successfully defended that judgment at the Supreme Court of the United States.
  • National Biweekly Administration secures vacatur of $8 million adverse judgment in CFPB litigationOn behalf of Nationwide Biweekly Administration, Inc., Jones Day secured vacatur of an $8 million adverse judgment against it resulting from a lawsuit brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB").
  • Fortune 20 company obtains vacatur of $70 million arbitration awardJones Day wins vacatur of a $70+ million arbitration award that purported to bar our client, a Fortune 20 company, from allowing customers to self-install certain equipment in their own homes, and instead required that union employees perform all installations regardless of whether the customer wanted that or not.
  • Pharmaceutical manufacturer successfully defends False Claims Act caseJones Day represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer as a defendant in a False Claims Act case alleging off-label marketing, among other things.
  • Logistics company obtains pre-appearance dismissal from tort action in U.S. federal courtJones Day represented a logistics company in a civil tort dispute in federal court. The plaintiff alleged the carrier was tortiously liable for the transportation of substances that harmed the plaintiff. Jones Day and local counsel negotiated the carrier's dismissal.
  • Jones Day attorney briefs and argues Sixth Circuit case as amicus in support of district courts' authority to impose partial filing fees on habeas appellantsThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit appointed Jones Day associate Jim Saywell to help it work through an issue of federal statutory interpretation.
  • SW General prevails before U.S. Supreme Court in Federal Vacancies Reform Act caseJones Day successfully represented SW General, Inc. before the Supreme Court of the United States in a case involving the scope of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA).
  • Law professors submit amicus curiae brief before U.S. Supreme Court in important constitutional and qualified-immunity caseJones Day, serving as pro bono counsel to a group of legal scholars, filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in an important constitutional and qualified-immunity case.
    • View All

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • February 24, 2017
      Get to Know Judge Gorsuch, moderator, The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies
    • February 15, 2017
      Judge Gorsuch: Textualist, Originalist, and Defender of Religious Liberty
    • December 14, 2016
      Supreme Court Year in Review, panel discussion, Ohio State Bar Association

    Before sending, please note:

    Information on www.jonesday.com is for general use and is not legal advice. The mailing of this email is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Anything that you send to anyone at our Firm will not be confidential or privileged unless we have agreed to represent you. If you send this email, you confirm that you have read and understand this notice.