James assists U.S. and multinational clients in navigating international trade and national security-related regulatory and enforcement matters. He advises on compliance with complex economic sanctions, export controls, antibribery, money laundering, and other laws applicable to international business operations and corporate transactions. James also has significant experience conducting cross-border investigations and compliance reviews, and advises clients on the development, implementation and testing of corporate compliance policies and procedures.  

Previously, James served as an attorney-advisor at the Department of the Treasury, where he provided legal counsel to OFAC. In this role, he was involved in the development and administration of many of the agency’s most complex sanctions programs, including those related to Russia, Cuba, and malicious cyber actors. He also provided guidance regarding the application of economic sanctions to cryptocurrency transactions and digital assets industry participants. James advised OFAC on numerous significant enforcement actions and licensing matters, the designation of hundreds of sanctions targets, as well as litigation involving the agency. He routinely assisted OFAC with the drafting of Frequently Asked Questions and other public guidance concerning significant and innovative sanctions actions.

He earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, where he served as the articles editor of International Law in Domestic Courts, and a M.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C.