Jessica Johnson Fishfeld

JESSICA JOHNSON FISHFELD is a commercial litigator who represents companies in complex, high-stakes disputes, with a particular focus on conflicts that arise between commercial competitors, partners, and customers, including contract-related disputes, partnership and shareholder issues, fraud, unfair competition, and post-M&A disputes. In addition, Jessica regularly handles matters involving intellectual property, data, and other proprietary information, and represents clients in the technology and entertainment industries. Drawing on her background as a performer, Jessica is especially attuned to the needs of creative clients and entrepreneurs. She also defends large companies in consumer class actions nationwide, including matters involving alleged product defects and advertising claims.

As an experienced trial lawyer, Jessica has handled jury trials and evidentiary proceedings and regularly drafts and argues complex motions and briefs at all stages of litigation. She is known for her strategic, solutions-oriented approach, taking the time to understand each client’s business objectives and developing practical, cost-effective strategies tailored to achieve them.

Class Action

• A food manufacturer in consumer class action lawsuits in venues around the country.
• A large healthcare company in a consumer breach of privacy class action.
• A car manufacturer against class action allegations of breach of warranty.
• A large car distributor from breach-of-warranty allegations in a class action.
• A major airline from class action allegations of breach of contract.

Intellectual Property Infringement and Misappropriation of Proprietary Information

• A startup multimedia company defending against a competitor’s claims of false advertising, unfair competition, and trade-secret misappropriation.
• A university in its copyright infringement action against a former employee.
• A beverage manufacturer alleging trade dress infringement against a competitor.
• A limited liability company in claims against business partner for breach of noncompete, intellectual property infringement, and misappropriation of confidential information.
• A large pharmaceutical drug manufacturer enforcing its patents against a generic drug manufacturer.
• A startup tech company against claims of trademark infringement from a competitor.
• A marketing company in a trademark and copyright dispute with a photographer.
• A large company in retrieving proprietary information leaked by a former employee.
• A large bank in an action against a former employee who misappropriated confidential information and trade secrets.

Other Business Disputes

• The buyer of a large home goods wholesaler in its US$250 million post-acquisition fraud claim against the seller of company.
• A seller of a re-insurance company against the buyer’s post-acquisition fraud claim alleging more than US$20 million in damages.
• A fiber-optic cable company in a dispute concerning title to land and easements where cable was installed, involving claims exceeding US$200 million in damages.
• A large pharmaceutical distributor in a multimillion-dollar breach-of-contract dispute with a major customer.
• A car manufacturer against a minority shareholder’s claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
• A small limited liability company against claims of breach of fiduciary duty.
• A large manufacturer of mechanical equipment against claims of fraud, negligence, and unfair trade practices brought by a major customer.
• A healthcare company in negotiations to settle a breach-of-contract dispute with a minority shareholder.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Member, Board of Directors, GableStage Theatre (2023–Present)
• Member, Junior Board, Connections for Abused Women and their Children, Chicago, Illinois (2015–2019)
• Judicial Intern, The Hon. Alan S. Gold, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (2012)

Jessica is deeply committed to pro bono work. She played a key role in securing a life-saving judgment overturning an improperly imposed death sentence in Alabama. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she assisted a small family-owned business in addressing significant financial challenges, and more recently, she was appointed by a federal court in South Florida to take over a pro se case on an emergency basis — trying the case to a jury just four days later and reducing her client’s liability by 87%.

Jessica was listed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida “Pro Bono Honor Roll” in 2021.