
James D. Filpi is a Senior Counsel with the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) in the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Commerce. CLDP provides consultative services to assist political, regulatory, judicial and commercial leaders to augment their policies, laws and organizational structures in order to improve the legal environment for doing business around the globe. Mr. Filpi primarily advises governments in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Prior to joining CLDP, Mr. Filpi practiced law with the International Competition Group of the Washington, DC office of the law firm Goodwin Procter, LLP, where he advised foreign and domestic clients regarding commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, federal administrative procedures, corporate restructurings, banking, and consumer protection. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Filpi managed research and development programs for the Washington, DC-based strategic research firm the Advisory Board Company and tracked commerce and trade legislation for a member of the United States Congress.
Mr. Filpi received his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as a student representative in the Center for Applied Legal Studies, representing refugees from Western Africa. Mr. Filpi was a staff member of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review and spent a portion of his legal study focusing on transnational law at the University of Hong Kong. Mr. Filpi also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia.
Mr. Filpi is a member of the American Bar Association Section of International Law and is Co-Chair of the Middle East Committee. Mr. Filpi is also a member of the Maryland Bar Association Section of Business Law and the District of Columbia Bar Association Section of International Law. Mr. Filpi is admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Filpi formerly served as member of the Board of the LD Access Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that promotes rights for the learning disabled and is the founder of the St. Anselm's Abbey School Alumni Association Charity Golf Tournament in Washington, DC.