James D. Schultz has joined Holland & Knight in Philadelphia as a partner in the firm’s Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group and will lead its Northeast Government Advocacy Team. Mr. Schultz served as senior associate counsel and special assistant to the president during the first year of the Trump administration. Previously, he was general counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He moved to Holland & Knight from Cozen O’Connor, where he was chair of the firm’s government and regulatory practice.
“Jim is an important addition to the firm and the Philadelphia office. He will help us continue to grow our ability to represent clients before government in a number of strategic markets,” said Steven Sonberg, Holland & Knight managing partner.
“Jim has a tremendous reputation in the Pennsylvania business community and around the country for providing CEOs and business leaders with effective legal and regulatory advice when dealing with government officials and agencies. He is the perfect candidate to expand our state capitals practice by establishing a government affairs and regulatory practice in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the Northeast, while also continuing to represent clients in Washington,” said Rich Gold, the leader of Holland & Knight’s Public Policy & Regulatory Practice Group. “He has relationships throughout Pennsylvania, in Washington and around the country that will be of benefit to clients of our Philadelphia office and across the firm.”
At the White House, Mr. Schultz provided legal counsel to the president and his staff on matters involving government contracting, procurement, trade and transportation, and infrastructure, and he had liaison responsibilities to the Department of Transportation and the General Services Administration. He played a significant role in the drafting and review of executive orders and was involved in the interview and selection process for United States Attorneys and federal district and circuit court judges. Mr. Schultz also served as an ethics official, advising on ethics and compliance matters including those involving the Ethics Act, Hatch Act, Stock Act, gift rules, financial disclosures and conflicts of interest.
As general counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Mr. Schultz provided legal counsel to the governor and his executive staff. He managed a legal organization of nearly 500 lawyers who served as counsel to 36 executive agencies and independent boards and commissions. He provided counsel on all major procurements, transactions, litigation, and the preparation of legislation and regulations on behalf of the administration and Commonwealth agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction. He served under Governor Thomas W. Corbett from 2011-2014.
Mr. Schultz focuses his legal practice on advising clients on matters before federal and state agencies, including regulatory and compliance issues in jurisdictions across the country. He counsels clients on internal and government investigations, government contracting and procurement, congressional inquiries, federal and state campaign finance and election laws, federal and state ethics issues, and complex litigation matters.
“Jim is well respected by the Pennsylvania business community, regulators and elected officials of both parties,” said John Martini, executive partner of Holland & Knight’s Philadelphia office. “He will raise the profile of the firm’s representation of clients in the Philadelphia region and across Pennsylvania. He will also bring his vast government experience to our Pennsylvania practice and our clients.”
“Holland & Knight is one of the top law firms in the country, with a strong bench of bipartisan lawyers and policy professionals handling government affairs matters,” said Mr. Schultz. “I am delighted to join such an impressive team and look forward to leading the charge to expand the firm’s government affairs and regulatory capabilities to my home state and the Northeast region.”
Mr. Schultz is a political and legal contributor to CNN, appearing on “AC360”, “Cuomo Prime Time,” “CNN Newsroom,” “The Situation Room,” “State of America” and “New Day.”
