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Lawyers

Sheila R. Adams James

Lawyers

Sheila R. Adams James

Partner
Antitrust & Competition
New York

Represents clients in a variety of civil litigation and government investigations, with a focus on antitrust matters.

Sheila represents clients in a variety of civil litigation and government investigations, and her practice focuses on antitrust investigations and litigation and the antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Her clients have included firms in the media and entertainment, technology, pharmaceutical, financial services and manufacturing industries, as well as individual corporate directors.

Sheila is recognized for her antitrust work by Chambers USA, where a source says, “Sheila’s willingness to work towards solutions and forge paths speaks to her creativity, innovation and leadership.” She was named to Global Competition Review’s 2025 list of “Women in Antitrust” and is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation. She served as Co-Chair of the ABA Antitrust Law Section’s Spring Meeting from 2022 to 2025 and now serves on the Section’s Reserves Board.

Experience

Antitrust Litigation and Investigations
  • Representing large technology company in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the FTC following parallel investigations by the FTC, DOJ and nearly 50 state attorneys general into 12 years of conduct
  • Centene in antitrust litigation alleging collusion and price-fixing in the out-of-network health insurance market
  • Leading financial institutions in suits alleging price-fixing and/or manipulation of financial benchmarks and instruments, including suits alleging conspiracies to manipulate the market for Mexican government bonds, the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the ISDAfix benchmark rate, and the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate (CDOR)
  • A manufacturer in one of the world’s largest antitrust class action matters, involving allegations of price-fixing in the global market for LCD panels in actions brought by hardware manufacturers, retailers, consumers and state attorneys general
  • Comcast and NBCUniversal in winning dismissal of a suit challenging NBC’s decision not to renew its affiliation agreement with a local broadcaster in Boston
Other Civil Litigation and Investigations
  • JPMorgan Chase in a dispute with Tesla regarding the impact of an Elon Musk tweet on the value of an equity derivative
  • The board of directors of a bankrupt alternative energy company in connection with its reorganization and defense of numerous securities litigation, federal whistleblower and creditor claims
  • Morgan Stanley in securities litigation related to residential mortgage-backed securities, including a False Claims Act and securities litigation brought by the California Attorney General related to investments made by California state pension funds
  • Underwriters of the Wanda Sports IPO in securities class action litigation arising out of the IPO
  • IBM in connection with wide-ranging FCPA investigations by the DOJ and the SEC
  • A financial institution in connection with an investigation by the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program
Pro Bono
  • Successful clemency petition for an individual whose life sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama
  • Argued and won Fourth Amendment search case before Second Judicial Department – Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.  People v. Delroy Francis, 24 N.Y.3d 615 (2014)
View more experience

Insights

Recognition

Chambers USA – Antitrust, New York

Benchmark Litigation – New York, Future Star

Global Competition Review – “Women In Antitrust,” 2025 

Best Lawyers – “Ones to Watch,” Antitrust, 2026

Lawdragon – 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2025

Lawdragon – 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers, 2025

Lawdragon 500 X – “The Next Generation,” 2023 and 2024

Ron Brown Scholar Program – Emerging Leadership Award, 2023

Lawyers of Color – “Wonderful Women,” 2023

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity – Fellow, 2021

National Bar Association – “40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates,” 2019

National Bar Association – “40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates, Excellence in Leadership,” 2019

Brooklyn Bar Association – Champion of Justice Award, 2017

Education

J.D., Columbia Law School
  • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
  • Outstanding Clinical Student Award
  • Editor in Chief, Columbia Journal of Race and Law
B.A., Sociology, Harvard University

Clerkships

Law Clerk, Hon. Carl E. Stewart, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2012-2013
Law Clerk, Hon. Raymond A. Jackson, U.S. District Court, E.D. Virginia, 2011-2012

Qualifications and admissions

  • State of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, C.D. Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, E.D. New York
  • U.S. District Court, S.D. New York
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