Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2010 – Winston & Strawn LLP announced today the addition of James P. Baker as a partner in its San Francisco office. Baker focuses on Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation and counseling employers on the entire spectrum of employee benefit and executive compensation matters. 

"We are pleased to welcome Jim to Winston & Strawn. He is recognized as one of the nation's top ERISA litigators and has considerable experience in defending major class actions.  Jim will help us expand further an already key area of our practice," said Rex Sessions, chairman of Winston & Strawn's labor and employment relations department.

"Jim is an accomplished ERISA lawyer with a truly national profile and reputation. While he may sit in San Francisco, his tremendous experience and proven success will be valuable assets to our clients nationally. Further, Jim continues the expansion of our thriving West Coast labor and employment practice," said Charles Birenbaum, managing partner of Winston & Strawn's San Francisco office.

Previously co-chair of Jones Day's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice, Baker has been recognized as one of the nation's 40 best ERISA attorneys by The National Law Journal, and Chambers USA named him one of America's Leading Lawyers for ERISA Litigation. In addition, he has been listed in several other legal directories as a prominent attorney in his field, including Legal 500 US, The Best Lawyers in America and Northern California Super Lawyers.

Baker regularly represents clients in federal district and appellate courts across the country. Among his most notable successes, Baker acted as lead attorney in five ERISA stock drop class action cases resulting in consecutive client victories using five different legal theories, including In re First American Corp. ERISA Litigation, 258 F.R.D. 610 (C.D. Cal. 2009); In re Dell ERISA Litigation, 563 F. Supp. 2d 681 (W.D. Tex. 2008); Spivey v. The Southern Company, 427 F. Supp. 2d 1144 (N.D. Ga. 2006); In re Administrative Committee ERISA Litigation, 2005 WL 3454126 (N.D. Cal. 2005); and Ogden v. Americredit Corp., 225 F.R.D. 529 (N.D. Tex. 2005).

Baker is a contributing editor for the Benefits Law Journal. He regularly authors articles and presents seminars on legal issues impacting employment benefits. Baker currently serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association's ERISA and Pension Litigation Subcommittee of the Committee on Business and Corporate Litigation. He is a mediator on ERISA cases for the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern districts of California.  In addition, he is a volunteer attorney for the AIDS Legal Referral Panel.

Baker received his master of laws degree from Georgetown University, his juris doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law and his bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University.