Law firm Jackson Walker has agreed to pay $15 million to settle claims brought by the Justice Department's civil division. The settlement resolves allegations concerning an undisclosed relationship between a former partner at the firm and former U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David R. Jones.
The firm did not admit fault as part of the agreement. The Justice Department had alleged that Jackson Walker may have benefited from the relationship, which was not disclosed to the court, by potentially influencing cases before Jones. Jones resigned from the bench in August 2023.
This settlement concludes the government's civil claims against the firm. Jackson Walker, which has offices across Texas and in other major U.S. cities, is one of the largest law firms in Texas. The firm's bankruptcy practice is significant, and its work often intersects with federal courts across the country.