James Chard focuses on intellectual property litigation, drawing on a background in mechanical engineering and experience in patent analysis and product liability. As a summer associate at Foley & Lardner, he evaluated patent claims for infringement, drafted litigation documents, and updated liability materials for a leading outdoor recreation company.

James is a member of the IP Litigation Practice Group. Prior to joining Foley, he analyzed invention disclosures and researched prior art as a commercialization analyst at the University of Illinois Office of Technology Management, gaining exposure to a wide variety of technologies, including MRI equipment, pulse oximeters, genetically modified plants, computer storage adaptations, micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) oscillators, learning management systems (LMS), large language model (LLM) AI, image-processing machine learning (ML) algorithms, photonic graphs, ultrasound imaging, and psychometric surveys. As an extern for Associate Judge Myron Mackoff at the Circuit Court of Cook County, James reviewed and analyzed pleadings and observed over 150 trials and hearings. His technical training allows him to navigate complex legal issues with clarity and precision.