As a transactional lawyer, Jim considers himself a puzzle-solver. He pulls together pieces of each transaction and helps clients analyze which deals will move them toward their long-term goals.
Jim’s engagements include cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, governance, securities, international expansion and general corporate matters. He is well known for his ability to understand the human side of transactions and keep peace during stressful negotiations.
With deep roots in agriculture, Jim draws on his industry knowledge and analytical skills to help clients find their best solution. He was raised in a small farming community in California and gained hands-on experience in the food systems industry as a plant manager for Sunkist. As a lawyer, he has guided some of the world’s best-known food and food systems companies, investors and financers. This distinct background allows Jim to understand his clients’ operations with an insider’s perspective.
Presidential Appointment
From 2015-2022, Jim served as an appointee of President Barack Obama to the seven-member Board for International Food and Agricultural Development. The Board counsels the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on matters relevant to world hunger and food insecurity.