James Jochum
Partner
T: 202.281.4886 ■ F: 202.403.3235 ■ E-Mail: jjjochum@jstpc.com
Jim Jochum, Partner with Jochum Shore & Trossevin PC (JST), co-founded the highly-regarded, boutique law firm in 2007. JST uniquely combines years of legal experience, the perspective of former high level government decision makers and deep relationships with current policymakers in the executive branch agencies and on Capitol Hill. While maintaining a small firm approach to customer service, JST has represented Fortune 500 companies, such as Target, Accenture, The Home Depot, Genentech and Whirlpool, as well as a wide range of relatively new companies with disruptive technology or business models, such as Snapchat, Lyft, Spotlight Innovation, Redbox and Elio Motors.
For more than 20 years, Jim has worked in and lobbied before the U.S. Congress and Administration, and has worked closely with Members of Congress and Senators to design and execute effective political strategies. A hands-on leader, he has been involved in lobbying initiatives, political campaigns and various legal challenges in the U.S. and in a number of international markets. He regularly assembles teams of lobbyists, policymakers, lawyers, public relations specialists and other professionals to collaborate, secure opportunities, solve problems, manage adversarial situations and achieve positive results for clients and coalitions.
Several of Jim’s representations illustrate the trust that clients and coalitions have placed in his firm’s ability to influence Republican thinking and legislation on a wide range of policy issues. He has helped successfully design and implement the lobbying strategy for several high profile technology clients to stop passage of legislation that would place new, burdensome regulations on the Internet. Jim and his team led a broad-based effort comprised of dozens of companies and public interest groups to reform the nation’s privacy laws. The firm also has been retained by a coalition of progressive groups to form a new association to lobby Republicans on the open internet.
Jim has extensive experience in the international arena, guiding a wide range of multinational clients through the U.S. political and regulatory process. Clients retain Jim for his expertise and judgment on complex matters, such as trade remedy litigation, policy development and advocacy on U.S. export controls and sanctions, the negotiation and implementation of international trade agreements and national security (CFIUS) matters.
Prior to entering private practice, Jim enjoyed a distinguished public sector career in which he served in senior positions in both the Bush Administration and on Capitol Hill. Jim was appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to two senior trade positions, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. As Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration, Jim led the agency responsible for implementing U.S. trade remedy laws, including antidumping, countervailing duty and safeguards. In the policy area, Jim led two important working groups on China trade, and was the lead U.S. delegate to the OECD steel negotiations and WTO Rules negotiations. At Export Administration, he was responsible for leading the agency charged with implementing the U.S. dual use export control laws.
Jim also has experience as a Senior Congressional staff member for two U.S. senators. For five years, he served as International Trade Counsel and Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Jim served as the lead international trade counsel on the Senate Banking Committee, under the chairmanship of Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX). Additionally, he has significant private sector experience. Jim was a partner in the law firm Mayer Brown, and was employed in the Washington, D.C. office of Accenture as an in-house lobbyist on international trade and tax issues.
Jim is a recognized thought leader on issues that intersect international economics and national security. He is a published author and currently serves as adjunct professor at both Georgetown University and American University. A graduate of the University of Iowa School of Law, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Iowa. James is a member of the District of Columbia and Wisconsin Bars.
He and his wife, Rita, live with their daughter in Oakton, Virginia.