Overview
Barack Ferrazzano is pleased to announce that the firm’s Director of Information Technology, James Bender, has been elevated to Chief Information Officer. In this role, James leads the firm’s technology strategy and operations, providing guidance and oversight for the development and implementation of solutions that support the firm’s business objectives. He is also responsible for IT budgeting, cybersecurity, and data privacy, and serves as a key resource to the firm’s partners and management team while leading the firm’s IT department.
Prior to joining Barack Ferrazzano, James spent 19 years at Sidley Austin LLP, serving in a variety of roles across the firm’s London and Chicago offices, including leadership positions overseeing its Document Management Systems and SQL teams. With more than two decades of experience in legal technology, James brings deep expertise in enterprise systems, data management, and technology operations. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology and Business Management from DePaul University.
“James has served the firm as Director of IT since joining Barack Ferrazzano in 2021 and has been a trusted strategic partner to me and firm leadership as we continue to evolve our technology capabilities. I am thrilled to see him step into the role of Chief Information Officer and am confident that his deep experience, thoughtful leadership, and forward-looking approach to technology will continue to strengthen our operations and data security and enhance the way we serve our clients.” — Roger H. Stetson, Managing Partner
About Barack Ferrazzano
Barack Ferrazzano was founded in 1984 with a vision focused on delivering efficient, team-oriented services of the highest quality. The firm has continued to focus on this vision and has grown and evolved into a sophisticated, first-class legal practice with a diverse client roster of national and international clients. We’ve accomplished this by practicing law in a different way. Our strategic focus is to continue growing organically by helping our clients succeed, by constantly evaluating and implementing ways to better serve our clients, and by recruiting the highest caliber of diverse talent. Our growth has been steady and measured, and we’ve chartered our own unique path to success, which is different than any other firm.
Today, Barack Ferrazzano has more than 120 attorneys in eleven practice groups, with nine of those groups having anywhere between three and six sub-groups. The firm regularly serves a wide array of industries but has particular experience serving: Luxury, Financial Services & Fintech, Manufacturing & Distribution, Motor Vehicle, Private Equity & Venture Capital, and Real Estate.
