Legal and Lobbying Career
After leaving public service, Thompson joined Winston & Strawn LLP, a major Chicago-based law firm. Thompson served as Chairman of the Executive Committee from 1991 to 2006, as well as Chairman and CEO of the firm from 1993 to 2006. He is presently Senior Chairman. As CEO of Winston & Strawn, he focused in the area of government relations and regulatory affairs. The firm has lobbied for American Airlines, and he has previously represented United Airlines.
Winston & Strawn is the same firm that represented former Illinois Governor George Ryan pro bono against federal charges relating to the "Licenses-for-Bribes" scandal during Ryan's tenure as Illinois Governor and Secretary of State. On April 17, 2006, George Ryan was convicted on all 18 counts, which included racketeering, misusing state resources for political gain, and fraud. He was sentenced to 6½ years in federal prison and began serving his sentence on November 7, 2007.
Thompson is also a director and head of the Audit Committee for Hollinger International, the media company founded by convicted fraudster Conrad Black (it is also now the subject of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation).
Read more about this topic: James R. Thompson
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