General Counsel

James Mendenhall is responsible for U.S. trade and investment policy, and oversees trade negotiations dealing with services, investment and intellectual property. He also oversees  the World Trade Organization negotiations in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property.

Mr. Mendenhall was promoted to the position in March 2003, succeeding Joseph Papovich, a longtime USTR official who retired. Mr. Mendenhall had previously served as deputy general counsel of USTR.

In his current position, Mr. Mendenhall is responsible for monitoring the adoption and enforcement of laws to protect U.S. patents and copyrights in foreign countries. He also supervises the annual “Special 301” report, which monitors the adequacy of worldwide laws to protect intellectual property, such as software, music, film, and other uniquely created products.

Before joining USTR, Mr. Mendenhall was a partner with Powell, Goldstein, Frazer and Murphy, where he specialized in WTO litigation, international arbitration, and trade policy. Mr. Mendenhall graduated from Harvard Law School in 1992 and from the University of Notre Dame with highest honors in 1989.