About James B.
James B. Toohey built a legal foundation on two campuses. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Gannon University in 1992 and then took a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, graduating in 2000. Those years shaped the early contours of a career that spans two state bars.
After law school, Toohey pursued practice across state lines. He is licensed to practice in Illinois and Pennsylvania, and he has maintained active ties to both legal communities. In 2013 he became a partner at MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, a role that marked a turning point in his professional life and placed him in the middle of the firm’s client work and internal decision making.
At the firm he has worked alongside trial lawyers, advisors and outside counsel on matters that require coordination between jurisdictions. His positioning in a multi-state practice reflects years spent balancing procedural rules and client needs in more than one court system. Colleagues describe him as a steady presence in team litigation and transactional matters.
Outside the office Toohey has kept an active civic calendar. He serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities, sits on the Alumni Board of Gannon University, participates on the Development Committee of the Neighborhood Art House, and holds a seat on the Serra Club of Erie Board of Directors. Those roles keep him connected to education, faith-based charity work and local arts initiatives. He often brings that experience back to firm discussions about pro bono work and community outreach.
His professional path is a mix of firm responsibility and local involvement. Becoming a partner in 2013 meant taking on case leadership and mentoring younger attorneys. It also offered a platform for shaping practice policies and joining client strategy sessions. Over time he has balanced firm duties with board work and alumni engagement, a pattern that informs how he approaches legal problems and client service.
People who work with Toohey note a pragmatic approach. He aims to clarify options and set practical steps rather than dwell on hypotheticals. That method is evident in how he manages multi-jurisdictional matters and coordinates with co-counsel.
He remains at MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton and practices law in both Illinois and Pennsylvania, handling matters that arise in and between those jurisdictions.
