Practice Area
Federal and state election law and campaign finance, corporate compliance, government ethics, and issue advocacy.

Jim serves as general counsel for the Democratic Governors Association.  Other representative clients include Americans for Stable Quality Care, a 501(c)(4) organization that supported President Obama’s health care reform plan, Bill Richardson for President 2008 (general counsel),  Manchin for West Virginia (2010 Senate campaign), Levin for Congress, and Patriot Majority PAC, one of the first independent federal “super PACs.”

Political and Government Experience

During the 8 years before becoming an election law attorney, Jim worked directly in politics as a campaign manager and government staff person.  His experience includes: campaign manager and deputy district administrator for Congressman John D. Dingell (1991 to 1995), campaign manager for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly (1996), executive assistant to Michigan Democratic Party chairman F. Thomas Lewand (1989-1991), and community development specialist in Detroit for U.S. Senator Donald Riegle (1987 to 1989).

From 1997 to 1998, Jim served as minority counsel for the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee’s “Investigation of Illegal or Improper Activities in Connection with 1996 Federal Election Campaigns” (Ranking Member U.S. Senator John Glenn).  Jim’s areas of investigation included the White House Coffees, Vice President Gore’s telephone calls, the Hsi Lai Temple event, and the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma’s effort to regain their tribal lands.

Honors and Recognition 

Named one of Washington’s “Top Political Lawyers” by Washingtonian Magazine,  November 2009 and November 2007, www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/5907.html