James H. Rollinson

Partner

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7075
F +1.216.696.0740

Overview

With more than 25 years' experience as a trial lawyer, Jamie Rollinson focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. He has extensive experience litigating matters in federal and state courts as well as in arbitration involving claims ranging from breach of contract and fraud to Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) violations and avoidable transfers. Jamie also has significant experience handling appeals with a solid record of success.

Jamie focuses on litigating large, complex matters. As a former prosecutor in Manhattan, he brings invaluable insight, experience and common sense to any case in which he is involved. He strives to find novel arguments and creative solutions to difficult issues in order to achieve the best results for clients.

Select Experience

  • Extensively involved in representing firm client Irving H. Picard, SIPA Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC; for more than a decade led a litigation team which investigated and developed key evidence regarding Madoff’s fraud, worked closely with expert witnesses and consultants and litigated over 20 avoidance action proceedings to recover funds misappropriated by Madoff in the historic fraud; in November 2015, tried the first of hundreds of adversary proceedings, Picard v. Andrew Cohen, et al., before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in which the SIPA Trustee prevailed; secured in April 2020 a $12 million settlement against a bad-faith defendant; tried as the first-chair an adversary proceeding, Picard v. Sage et al., before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in early 2022 in which the SIPA Trustee secured a $16.88 million judgment; and currently part of a team seeking to recover millions of dollars in subsequent transfers from BLMIS feeder funds.
  • Defended financial services clients in array of disputes, including large class action.
  • Represented a pharmacy benefits manager in a wide range of matters, including disputes with network pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulatory bodies.
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Experience

  • Extensively involved in representing firm client Irving H. Picard, SIPA Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC; for more than a decade led a litigation team which investigated and developed key evidence regarding Madoff’s fraud, worked closely with expert witnesses and consultants and litigated over 20 avoidance action proceedings to recover funds misappropriated by Madoff in the historic fraud; in November 2015, tried the first of hundreds of adversary proceedings, Picard v. Andrew Cohen, et al., before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in which the SIPA Trustee prevailed; secured in April 2020 a $12 million settlement against a bad-faith defendant; tried as the first-chair an adversary proceeding, Picard v. Sage et al., before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in early 2022 in which the SIPA Trustee secured a $16.88 million judgment; and currently part of a team seeking to recover millions of dollars in subsequent transfers from BLMIS feeder funds.
  • Defended financial services clients in array of disputes, including large class action.
  • Represented a pharmacy benefits manager in a wide range of matters, including disputes with network pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulatory bodies.
  • Involved in internal fraud investigations, including one relating to a broker-dealer kickback scheme between former Ohio deputy treasurer Amer Ahmad and certain broker-dealers.
  • Served as counsel to several whistleblowers of corporate fraud, including a hedge fund’s false representation of its investment strategy and a software company’s misreporting of sales revenue.
  • Led a team investigating the waste and abuse of corporate assets in connection with the collapse of a large hedge fund.
  • Handled numerous appeals with success, including MDM Realty, Ltd. v. Progress Properties S. Ltd. Partnership, 2007-Ohio-3668, and Klayman v. Luck, 2012-Ohio-4454.

Recognitions and Memberships

Memberships

  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

News

News

Community

  • Rocky River United Methodist Church
  • Great Lakes Science Center: Board of Directors (2014 to 2020)
  • Rocky River Soccer Organization: Board Member (2013 to 2018)
  • Cleveland Bridge Builders: Class of 2012
  • Cleveland Yacht Club: Member

Prior Positions

  • Todd & Weld LLP (2000 to 2004)
  • Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 2002
  • Ohio, 2006
  • Massachusetts, 2001
  • New York, 1998

Education

  • J.D., Cornell University Law School, 1997
  • B.S., Physics, University of Richmond, 1992, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa