James Kearney

About me

A partner in the firm’s Government Contracts and Global practice groups, Jim brings years of experience to the task of helping clients who transact business with government entities and across borders make sense of the extensive government regulation of their businesses. His clients range from commercial businesses, both large and small, to universities and non-profits. Jim also regularly advises clients in merger and acquisition transactions requiring often complex government-related due diligence and risk assessment.

His clients include government contractors, both prime contractors and subcontractors, who sell products and services to federal, state, local, and even foreign governments. Jim advises these clients on complying with all aspects of regulatory requirements under government contracts, grants and other funding agreements, including the Federal Acquisition Regulations rights in technical data and trade secrets, teaming agreements and joint ventures, subcontracting, protests, false claim allegations, policies and procedures, internal audits and investigations, security clearance requirements, voluntary disclosures, and agency enforcement actions and dispute resolution.

Similarly, for clients’ cross-border transactions, Jim advises on complying with US export, import and trade controls, structuring internal compliance programs, conducting internal investigations and self-disclosures, and resolving enforcement proceedings. Jim is deeply experienced with issues relating to country of origin determinations and “Made in the USA” claims, foreign ownership and control restrictions, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and the cross-border transfer of software, hardware, and technical data. Jim’s experience includes advising on compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, the Anti-boycott regulations, the Foreign Assets Controls Regulations, and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.