James Lockett

OVERVIEW

International lawyer and manager in twenty-eighth year in trade and regulatory law and policy. Extensive work experience in Asia since 1985, with more than 100 business trips to the region from Europe or the U.S., and extensive travel within. Lived and worked in ASEAN since 2006 (Indonesia 2006-2008; Vietnam 2008-2011). Significant cross-cultural management roles since 1990 in major law firms, chambers of commerce in Europe and in Asia, USAID projects, and government work. Senior level legal and technical assistance work and capacity building involving international trade and customs, regional trade integration, trade facilitation, supply chain and logistics, and regulatory issues. Strong history of utilizing international and government experience to assist private sector. Extensive public speaking and thought-leadership experience.

Key Experience   

• Managed the overseas branch offices of two major U.S. law firms, coordinated several multi-jurisdictional international trade law practice groups, operated his own law firm for 4 years in Sweden and U.S., worked as COP for a $13.5 million USAID trade project in Indonesia, and held a number of other large-scale international management roles involving coordinating multiple nationalities. Over two decades of experience managing and supervising diverse and multi-national groups of employees and experts. Extensive project management experience with major trade law and policy issues. Experienced dealing with management of complex relationships with multiple partners/institutions in different countries.
• Substantial international trade law and policy experience on matters involving U.S., EC, ASEAN and WTO trade law, including representing the U.S. Government in litigation at the World Trade Organization. As a trade lawyer, a large ongoing focus since 1990 during the GATT Uruguay Round of negotiations on trade issues such as tariffs and market access for goods, market access in services, trade remedies, and dispute settlement. Currently advises corporate clients on international supply chain, market access, and trade facilitation issues, as well as sub-contracting on two USAID technical assistance projects in Vietnam and Cambodia, and has been assisting several foreign interests to respond to recent Vietnamese import and regulatory measures considered contrary to WTO commitments.
• Extensive experience with regional regulatory coherence initiatives. Worked in Brussels from 1984-1998, during which time the EC enacted its “EC 1992” reform of legal and regulatory changes to create the EC “Single Market” and subsequently the “Three Pillars” relating to its economic, foreign and security, and justice and home affairs structures. Conducted major studies on regulatory impact, as well as commenting on draft regulatory initiatives. Also worked on GATT Article XXIV(6) issues related to the trade impact of three accessions of new Member States to the EC. In addition, worked in Jakarta with USAID ITAP from 2006-2008 in the Ministry of Trade (MOT), and part of this work involved assisting the MOT’s ASEAN Division analyze proposals for the ASEAN Economic Community (CEPT-AFTA; AFAS; AIA), and the ASEAN Charter.
• As legal counsel to a number of not-for-profit organizations and NGOs, has experience with a wide range of socio-cultural issues such as disaster relief, SME development, human rights, education, religious freedom, and medical/humanitarian assistance.
• Having spent two thirds of career in the private sector and one third in the public sector, significant experience with government relations and with developing public-private sector dialogues. Twice held key chairmanships for the American Chamber of Commerce (1990-1997, Brussels; 2010-present, Hanoi) working with high-level government officials on behalf of private business, including agribusiness interests. With 14 years experience in Brussels and now six years working in Indonesia and Vietnam, can utilize particularly useful non-U.S. perspectives on how to organize and structure such public-private initiatives. Also was retained by an Asian government in a sensitive assignment to lobby on behalf of their candidate to become Director General of the WTO.
• In demand as a public speaker and thought-leader. Presented at over 100 conferences in more than 35 countries since 1985. Numerous recent presentations on WTO (including WTO Agriculture Agreement, SPS, import licensing, dispute settlement), ASEAN, Trans-Pacific Partnership, regional regulatory coherence, and supply chain issues.
• Listed in the International Who’s Who of Trade and Customs Lawyers 2010, and Who's Who In International Trade Law. Listed annually in Who’s Who in the World since 1996.