Jim has broad experience at the intersection of federal government, national security and international business.
Jim’s specific focus is on the legislative, policy and compliance issues involved in international investment, trade and business development. Through his international business and federal government relations practice, he assists clients with transnational compliance matters (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), export licensing and involvement with various sanctions regimes) and works frequently with the presidential administration and Capitol Hill. He spent more than a decade as a senior staff member for several U.S. senators, including three years as chief of staff to then-Senate Leader Bob Dole (R-KS), for whom he also handled trade and telecommunications issues.
Co-Moderator, “A Tax By Any Other Name: 5th Circuit Strikes Down Universal Service Fund (USF) as Unconstitutional Tax,” West LegalEdcenter, October 2024
Co-Moderator, “Negotiable Hostilities – Part V: REXIT and Its Repercussions – Criminal and Other Implications,” Webinar, Thomson Reuters, June 2024
Co-Moderator, “The FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Rules are Back: What’s Next?” West LegalEdcenter, June 2024
Participant, Negotiable Hostilities “Fireside Chat,” West LegalEdcenter, August 2023
Presenter, “Regulatory Review – and Investor Implications – in U.S. Foreign Direct Investment,” LawExchange International, June 2023
Co-Moderator, “Negotiable Hostilities – Part IV: REXIT – The “Nuts and Bolts” of Contract and Investment Disputes When Leaving Russia,” Webinar, West LegalEdcenter, June 2022
Co-Moderator and Speaker, “Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Regulations,” “Negotiable Hostilities – Part III: Doing Business with Russia in the Current Crisis,” Webinar, West LegalEdcenter, April 2022
Speaker, “U.S. (And Other) Regulations Regarding ‘Foreign’ Investment in Telecom Infrastructure,” TowerXchange, Meetup Americas Borderless Digital Forum, July 2020
Moderator, “Negotiable Hostilities – Part II: Telecom Deals With Foreign Investors in the Current Administration,” West LegalEdcenter Webcast, July 2020
Panelist, “Global Business Opportunities and Compliance Challenges,” Buffalo Business First State of the Region Breakfast, May 2019
Guest, The Hard Question with BQ, WCGO Chicago, December 2018
Guest, “Tariff Talk with Jim Wholey, Former Chief of Staff for Senator Bob Dole,” The Hard Question with BQ, December 2018
Speaker, “Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS),” Phillips Lytle Monthly Data Security Download, February 2018
Speaker, “Top 10 Things to Do This Year for Contract and Policy Review,” Phillips Lytle Monthly Data Security Download, February 2018
Speaker, “Specialized Export Compliance Topics,” Upstate New York Trade Conference, June 2016
Presenter, “The Changing Labor and Employment Landscape,” “What Government Contractors are Facing in 2016,” Phillips Lytle LLP Seminar, March 2016
Presenter, “New Regulatory and Legislative Developments in Washington that will Impact Government Contractors in the New Year,” “What Government Contractors are Facing in 2016,” Phillips Lytle LLP Seminar, March 2016
Moderator, “The Politics of Finance: 2016 Elections and the Markets,” DC Alternative Investment Consortium, January 2016
Speaker, “The Growing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market,” Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster Event, December 2015
Speaker, “On the Front Lines: New Risks and Knowledge,” “Cybersecurity Today: New Players, New Risk, New Knowledge,” October 2015
Chair/Moderator, “International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR),” 2015 Upstate New York Trade Conference, June 2015
Presenter, Inaugural Meeting of the DC Alternative Investment Consortium (DCAIC), May 2015
Activities & Professional Associations
Present Activities
Republican Senators, Candidates and Committees, Advisor
National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Lecturer
Tribune Broadcasting, Guest Panelist
Past Activities
Department of Defense Transition Team for President George W. Bush
White House Transition Team for President George H. W. Bush
Senate Committee on Commerce, Special Outside Counsel
Senate Judiciary Committee, Intellectual Property Subcommittee, Special Outside Counsel
