James Rohn

Jim completed his first marathon at age 60. His approach to clients utilizes the same long-range strategic thinking and relentless determination that a marathon requires. To better serve his clients’ companies’ long-term health, rather than just solving problems as they arise, Jim's methods include detection, inoculation, and prevention. His philosophy is to keep clients out of the courtroom with strategic assessment of potential areas of liability and advice tailored to eliminate or reduce exposure. 

Jim has decades of experience working inside and outside of government. He clerked for the Honorable Louis Bechtle, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia before becoming First Assistant. While representing the United States, he argued before the Third Circuit, and tried several significant and complex white-collar cases, including the the Philadelphia ABSCAM case, chronicled in the film American Hustle.

In 1989, Jim joined the firm Conrad O’Brien as Managing Shareholder, a position he held for more than 18 years before assuming the Chairman's role in 2006. Jim tried a wide variety of complex commercial cases, representing clients in civil RICO, class actions, antitrust, insurance, securities, asset recovery, environmental and legal malpractice cases. He has received national recognition for his white-collar defense practice, representing companies and individuals in grand jury investigations, internal corporate investigations, and regulatory compliance proceedings. 

Jim Rohn's work has been recognized by the most esteemed assessors of attorneys. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, was the first white-collar Pennsylvania lawyer to be named “eminent practitioner” by Chambers USA and has been described as “one of the preeminent lawyers in the City, “a dean of the bar,” and a “brilliant strategist on investigative matters,” who “brings a large wealth of knowledge to the market.”

Clients praise his keen listening skills. You are not alone when you work with him. Jim firmly believes that a law firm must not only produce results but also inspire loyalty in clients, distinguish itself in the field, and assemble winning teams. As a client, you are part of the team.

In addition to his legal practice, Jim has actively served the broader community. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), where he was also chair of the Audit Committee. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cornerstone Christian Academy, a mission school for at-risk children in Southwest Philadelphia where he has also served as chair of the Board. Currently, Jim is a member of the Academy's Trustee Advisory Board. He served as an Elder of Hope Community Church and has served as a part-time faculty member at Temple University and Villanova University Law Schools, where he lectured on trial advocacy.