James F. Groth Funkhouser Vegosen Liebman & Dunn Ltd. 55 West Monroe Street Suite 2300 Chicago, Illinois 60603 TEL: 312.701.6830 FAX: 312.701.6801

Jim grew up in Wisconsin. He received his B.B.A. in Corporate Finance in 1989 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1992, he received his J.D. cum laude from Northwestern University. Jim graduated from Northwestern Order of the Coif. In 1991-1992, Jim was Note and Comment Editor of the Northwestern University Law Review. He authored and published a Comment, "Can Regulators Force Bank Holding Companies to Bail Out Their Failing Subsidiaries? -- An Analysis of the Federal Reserve Board's Source-of-Strength Doctrine," 86 Northwestern University Law Review 112 (1991).

Jim joined Funkhouser Vegosen Liebman & Dunn Ltd. upon his graduation from Northwestern in 1992 and became a member of the Firm, on January 1, 1999. Jim has developed in-depth experience in a broad range of practice areas. Jim has extensive experience in, among other things, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, multinational business combinations, international trade transactions, international taxation issues, securities transactions, complex litigation including securities fraud litigation, labor and employment matters and various types of business financing transactions.

Jim has taken a lead role in the Firm's work on cutting-edge issues such as development of equity-based incentive compensation programs for executives of corporate employers, as well as the planning and negotiation of joint venture and "partnering" relationships, software development agreements and other infrastructure initiatives in connection with clients' internet and e-commerce strategies. Jim has represented companies, shareholders and partners in the resolution of intra enterprise management disputes and restructurings, resolving most of them without litigation. Jim also has been particularly active in the Firm's representation as corporate counsel for various start-up and entrepreneurial clients as well as large, established enterprises.

In 1992, Jim was admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court and the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois. In 1996, he was admitted to practice in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Jim is a member of the Chicago and American Bar Associations.

Jim is active in the Firm's recruiting and marketing efforts and has contributed substantially to the Firm's integration of cutting-edge technology to enhance the efficiency and quality of the Firm's and its individual attorneys' law practices.

Jim enjoys fly-fishing, golf, racquetball and travel. He is a gourmet cook who has studied and experiments with a wide range of ethnic cuisines. Jim is married and has one son.