Mastering Mediation & Arbitration: Strategies for Navigating the Rising Tide of Privacy Class Action Lawsuits

Hon. Anna H. Demacopoulos (Ret.) joins JAMS in Chicago following 15 years of distinguished service to the Circuit Court of Cook County (Illinois) and over 20 years of service to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. In the Chancery Division, Judge Demacopoulos handled a wide variety of matters, including class actions, confirmation of arbitration awards, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, insurance coverage, mortgage foreclosure, trusts, shareholder derivative actions, and other business disputes. 

Presided over several cases involving challenges to the Biometric Information Privacy Act, including statute of limitations claims, preemption by the Worker’s Compensation Act, preemption by a collective bargaining agreement, and government contractor exclusion.

Hon. James R. Epstein (Ret.) brings more than 40 years of experience to his JAMS practice, including more than 15 years of judicial service. Judge Epstein was a justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, preceded by service in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where he settled innumerable cases spanning a variety of complex claims, including commercial, class action, professional negligence, torts, insurance coverage disputes, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, contracts, eminent domain, shareholder rights, business dissolutions and many others.

As a sitting judge, Judge Epstein presided over hundreds of declaratory action cases, including coverage disputes between primary and excess insurers, disputes with insured over exclusions, definitions, compliance with contract terms, public policy and bad faith claims. He has extensive experience with duties to defend and indemnify, Subrogation, business interruption claims and additional insured disputes. At JAMS, he has settled numerous disputes involving all of these issues

Hon. James E. Snyder (Ret.) joins JAMS in Chicago following 16 years of distinguished service as an associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Prior to his retirement in 2023, Judge Snyder presided over a Law Division commercial litigation calendar, including bench and jury proceedings, in matters involving employment, construction, government and whistleblower claims, qui tam and statutory false claims, professional negligence, contract matters, lending and debt.

Judge Snyder presided over a Law Division commercial litigation calendar, including bench and jury proceedings, in matters involving employment, construction, government and whistleblower claims, qui tam and statutory false claims, professional negligence, contract matters, lending and debt.