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James Houghton

Senior Associate

Boston

Jim Houghton represents corporate and individual clients in a wide range of litigation and government enforcement matters.

Jim represents clients in federal and state courts (individual and class actions), and in enforcement actions brought by government agencies. Jim’s practice spans a broad range of subject matters, including consumer finance, cybersecurity, state consumer protection statutes, commercial disputes, and white-collar representations.

Prior to joining Orrick, Jim was an associate at Buckley LLP and an associate at an international law firm. Jim also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Timothy E. Meredith on the Appellate Court of Maryland.

    • Representing the former CEO of a financial institution in matters arising out of regulator’s takeover of the bank.
    • MOVEit Data Breach Class Actions: Representing a private research university and a network of healthcare facilities in over ten class actions arising out of a data breach of the MOVEit file transfer software, in federal and state court (D. Mass.; D. Md.; Baltimore City Cir. Ct.).
    • Representing a global provider of higher education software and services in a multi-million-dollar breach of contract action against a state government entity (N.D. Tex.).
    • Representing home security technology company in class action involving the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and consumer protection claims (N.D. Ill.).
    • Various Life Settlement Investors: Representing life settlement investors against insurable interest challenges from estates and insurance carriers, as well as pursuing claims against insurance carriers for increases to cost of insurance rates (N.D. Cal.; D. Del.).
    • Secured favorable resolution of “account positive, settle negative” class action, involving breach of contract and consumer protection claims (MN Dist. Ct.).
    • Secured dismissal with prejudice in “account positive, settle negative” class action, involving breach of contract and consumer protection claims (D. Minn.).
    • Secured favorable resolution of litigation between Japanese gaming company and its billionaire founder (D. Nev.).
    • Obtained order compelling arbitration on behalf of lenders in putative class action involving federal and state court proceedings in relation to claims under several Maryland consumer protection statutes (D. Md.; Montgomery Cty. Cir. Ct.).
    • Represented a mortgage servicer in convenience fee-related class action, asserting claims under several state consumer protection statutes (D. D.C).
    • Asylum Pro Bono: Successfully obtain asylum for Afghan refugee who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.