James R. Silkenat

Representative Client Work

• Represented investors and fund managers in international investment funds
• Represented governments and bidders in privatization matters
• Represented European banks in loan transactions in the United States
• Represented Asian corporations and financial institutions in cross-border acquisitions and financings
• Represented U.S. and international lenders in cross-border insolvencies and restructurings
• Represented U.S., Latin American, Asian and African companies and government entities in project financings, particularly in the energy sector

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1973
• District of Columbia, 1981

Publications

• ABA President-Elect Jim Silkenat Discusses Networking Value of Bar Association Memberships with Externship Students, BLS LawNotes (Spring 2013)
• ABA Panel Struggles for Answers on Law School Reform, The National Law Journal, Quoted (April 24, 2013)
• NYC lawyer named head of American Bar Association, The Wall Street Journal (August 8, 2012)
• ABA President-Elect Silkenat Tells of Plan to Create Legal Job Corps, ABA Journal (August 7, 2012)
• James R. Silkenat elected President-Elect of the American Bar Association, abanow.org (August 7, 2012)
• Editor, The ABA Guide to International Business Negotiations, 1994, 2000 and 2009 Editions
• Editor, The ABA Guide to Foreign Law Firms, 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004 and 2010 Editions
• Editor, The Law of International Insolvencies and Debt Restructurings
• Editor, The Moscow Conference on Law and Bilateral Economic Relations
• Editor, International Mergers and Acquisitions
• Editor, The Imperial Presidency and the Consequences of 9/11
• Author of more than 100 articles on law, international business and public policy

Teaching & Speaking Engagements

• Speaker, "International Expansion for the Mid-Sized U.S. Company: Mergers, Joint Ventures, Government Approvals and Local Competition," Association of Corporate Counsel Northeast Chapter, Boston (May 2013)
• Speaker, "Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Lecture," New York County Lawyers' Association, New York (April 2013)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Litigation: Protecting the Non-U.S. Creditor in a U.S. Bankruptcy Case," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (November 2012)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Litigation: Protecting the Non-U.S. Client in U.S. Legal Proceedings," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (July 2012)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Private Equity Transactions: Reconciling Shareholder Management and Target Company Interests," ABA Section of International Law Fall Meeting, Dublin, Ireland (October 2011)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Employment Law Matters: Employee Non-Competition Arrangements, Disability Issues and Open Forum," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (June 2011)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Employment Law Matters: Employment Terminations and Related Issues at the End of the Employment Relationship," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (January 2011)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Employment Law Matters: Protecting Your Client from Liability," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (September 2010)
• Moderator, "Crisis or Opportunity? M&A and Asset Acquisitions in Times of Crisis: What to Look for When Acquiring and Financing Acquisitions in a Volatile Market," ABA Section of International Law Spring Meeting, New York, New York (April 2010)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Real Estate Deals: Current Tricks of the Trade," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (April 2010)
• Moderator, "Cross-Border Acquisition and Sale of Real Estate," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (February 2010)
• Moderator, "Transactions in U.S. Real Estate," Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York (November 2009)
• Speaker, "The Rule of Law in Singapore and Beyond: Advancing the Dialogue," International Section of the New York State Bar Association, Singapore (October 2009)
• Speaker, "The Role of Law in Sharpening the U.S.’s Competitive Edge in Global Markets," Association of Corporate Counsel Seminar on "The Current Financial Crisis," New York, New York (December 2008)
• Co-Chair, "Business Bankruptcies and Restructurings in a Global Economy," Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, New York, New York (November 2008)
• Co-Chair, "Hot Issues in Foreign Investment in the United States," American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii (August 2006)
• Co-Chair, "International Bankruptcy and Insolvency: Competing and Conflicting Issues for the U.S. and Europe," ABA Section of International Law Fall Meeting, Brussels, Belgium (October 2005)
• Co-Chair, "The Future of International Project Finance: New Rules, New Problems, New Funding Sources," ABA Section of International Law Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C. (April 2005)
• Chair, "M&A Activity in Latin America: Legal and Business Issues for Buyers and Sellers in a Revitalized Market," ABA Section of International Law Fall Meeting, Houston, Texas (October 2004)
• Co-Chair, "International Debt and Equity Funds: Strategic and Regulatory Issues in Financing of Offshore Projects and Companies," ABA Section of Law and Practice Spring Meeting, New York, New York (April 2004)
• Co-Chair, "International Private Equity Investment Funds: Legal and Business Issues for Institutional and Individual Investors," ABA Section of International Law and Practice Spring Meeting, New York, New York (May 2002)
• Co-Chair, "Offshore Investment Funds: Legal and Business Issues for Institutional and Individual Investors," ABA Section of International Law and Practice Spring Meeting, Hamilton, Bermuda (April 1999)
• Chair, Conference on Corporate Counsel Issues: Problems and Solutions in a Changing Professional Environment, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C. (June 1996)
• Chair, Conference on Doing Business with South Africa, American Conference Institute, New York, New York (October 1994)
• Chair, Conference on International Mergers & Acquisitions, American Conference Institute, New York, New York (February 1994)
• Chair, Conference on Doing Business in China and Hong Kong, American Conference Institute, New York, New York (May 1993)
• Co-Chair, Conference on 1992 in Europe: A Practical Legal Guide to Doing Business in the Single European Market, American Bar Association, New York, New York (June 1990)
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center (1982 – 1986)

Awards & Honors

• Who's Who in the World
• Who's Who in America
• Who's Who in American Law
• New York Super Lawyers (2006-2012)
• Diversity Champion Award, 2009, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
• Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree, Drury University (2012)

Professional & Civic Activities

• American Bar Association
  
  
  • President-Elect of the 400,000 member American Bar Association, 2012-2013
  • Former Chair, New York Delegation to the ABA House of Delegates, 2000-2009 
  • Former Chair, Section of International Law
  • Former Chair, Section Officers Conference
  • Former Chair, China Law Committee 
  • Board of Governors, 1994-1997, 2012- 
  • Former Chair, Latin American Legal Initiatives Council
  • Former Vice Chair and Secretary, ABA Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities
  • Steering Committee, Working Group on Legal Opinions
  • Former Chair, Museum of Law
  • Former Chair, Commission on The World Justice Project, 2008-2009
  • Former Member, Commission on Women in the Profession
  • Former Member, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession
• New York State Bar Association, House of Delegates
• Former Chair, Council on International Affairs, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
• Former Chair, Lawyers Committee for International Human Rights (now Human Rights First)
• Director and Vice President, The World Justice Project, 2009-

Education

• LL.M., International Law, New York University School of Law, 1978
• J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1972; Editor, University of Chicago Law Review
• B.A., Drury College, 1969, Omicron Delta Kappa Award (Outstanding Student Leadership Prize)