James C Hecht

Jim Hecht, a partner in Skadden, Arps’s international trade group, concentrates in complex trade litigation and policy advice regarding legislative and executive branch initiatives across a wide spectrum of issues. Mr. Hecht served as Chief Counsel to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in the 106th Congress (1999-2000). In addition to oversight responsibilities for judicial nominations and legal matters affecting the Senate, Mr. Hecht handled a wide range of issues before the Judiciary Committee, including bankruptcy reform, antitrust, intellectual property, crime, and oversight of the Department of Justice and the courts. Mr. Hecht also had responsibility for the trade portfolio before the Senate Finance Committee, including oversight of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the trade functions at the Department of Commerce, Treasury, the Customs Service and the International Trade Commission. He worked extensively in the 106th Congress on the passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China, the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (Africa and CBI Trade Preferences), and the Foreign Sales Corporation Repeal and Extraterritorial Income Exclusion Act. Among his activities in national politics, Mr. Hecht acted on behalf of the Bush-Cheney Transition as policy coordinator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He also served as a policy and platform advisor to the Dole for President campaign in 1996, as well as serving as a regional lawyer responsible for ballot access in five states. Prior to joining Majority Leader Lott’s office in 1999, Mr. Hecht practiced in Skadden, Arps’s international trade group from 1993-1999. He represented and advised clients in a variety of regulatory matters and litigation before the Department of Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Customs Service, the International Trade Commission, the Court of International Trade, and NAFTA dispute resolution panels. From 1991-1993, Mr. Hecht practiced in the area of civil litigation at a firm in Houston. Jim Hecht, a partner in Skadden, Arps’s international trade group, concentrates in complex trade litigation and policy advice regarding legislative and executive branch initiatives across a wide spectrum of issues. Mr. Hecht served as Chief Counsel to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott in the 106th Congress (1999-2000). In addition to oversight responsibilities for judicial nominations and legal matters affecting the Senate, Mr. Hecht handled a wide range of issues before the Judiciary Committee, including bankruptcy reform, antitrust, intellectual property, crime, and oversight of the Department of Justice and the courts. Mr. Hecht also had responsibility for the trade portfolio before the Senate Finance Committee, including oversight of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the trade functions at the Department of Commerce, Treasury, the Customs Service and the International Trade Commission. He worked extensively in the 106th Congress on the passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China, the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (Africa and CBI Trade Preferences), and the Foreign Sales Corporation Repeal and Extraterritorial Income Exclusion Act. Among his activities in national politics, Mr. Hecht acted on behalf of the Bush-Cheney Transition as policy coordinator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He also served as a policy and platform advisor to the Dole for President campaign in 1996, as well as serving as a regional lawyer responsible for ballot access in five states. Prior to joining Majority Leader Lott’s office in 1999, Mr. Hecht practiced in Skadden, Arps’s international trade group from 1993-1999. He represented and advised clients in a variety of regulatory matters and litigation before the Department of Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Customs Service, the International Trade Commission, the Court of International Trade, and NAFTA dispute resolution panels. From 1991-1993, Mr. Hecht practiced in the area of civil litigation at a firm in Houston.