Overview
Legal & Government Affairs
Before joining Faegre Drinker, Jim served as the executive vice president and general counsel, and then as senior vice president, legal and government affairs at a global, diversified agribusiness firm, where he guided the board and CEO through strategic transformations, governance transitions, and responses to significant compliance, risk and control failures. He also restructured the legal, audit, government affairs and compliance teams and co-led the company’s global COVID-19 response. His leadership extended to leading the team that created the company's first enterprise sustainability framework.
Corporate Compliance & Governance
Jim also has in-depth experience in compliance operations and programming, having served as the vice president and global chief compliance officer at a global innovation and manufacturing company. He also led the company’s international legal organization during a time of dynamic global risk and advanced the company’s global compliance program. He has chaired a compensation committee and contributed significantly to executive compensation governance in his various legal and board roles.
Jim’s firsthand experience— both embedded within international operations and as counsel to and as a member on multiple boards — allow him to better counsel firm clients in areas concerning governance, compliance and fiduciary duties. He understands the processes and systems needed to operate a corporate legal organization effectively and successfully.
Thought Leadership
Jim has spoken at legal education and compliance industry seminars about a wide range of topics, including leadership of corporate legal departments, anti-corruption, and corporate compliance programming and oversight.
Prior Experience
Before transitioning to broader corporate counsel roles, Jim practiced labor and employment law for more than a decade, guiding clients in addressing a range of talent related issues, including risk management, claims and litigation, developing policies, and conducting mergers and acquisitions.
Personal Interests
Jim is an active community volunteer. He enjoys starting each day with exercise and finding time to read.
Related Legal Services
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
Clerkships
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Hon. Richard H. Kyle, 1992-1994
Education
University of Minnesota Law School
J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Minnesota Law Review (note and comment editor) (1992)
University of Southern California
M.A. in Communication Arts and Science (1989)
Drake University
B.F.A. in Rhetoric and Speech Communications, summa cum laude (1986)
Insights & Events
Other Perspectives
- Leading Today’s Legal Department – Balancing Corporate Legal Demands While Supporting Attorney Wellbeing
Panelist, Association of Corporate Counsel Minnesota, Minneapolis, February 2023
Leadership & Community
Civic Activities
- GroundBreak Coalition — Executive Council, 2024-present
- Alight — U.S. Programs Steering Committee, 2024-present
- Greater Twin Cities United Way — Board of Directors, 2017-present (Chair, 2022-23); Governance Committee, Vice Chair, 2020-21; Tocqueville Society Cabinet, 2017-20
- Boy Scouts of America — Northern Star Council, Board of Directors, 2011-21
Honors
- The Legal 500 — GC Powerlist, 2019