James is Hong Kong-American and a J.D. Candidate at Georgetown. Before coming to DC, he studied at the University of Washington where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with summa cum laude and minored in French. He worked as a paralegal and volunteered as a wildfire fighter for a year after.

James’ exposure to international economic law began with his  coursework in college on the creation of the CFA franc and its current impact on West African economies. His studies led him to further research into the modern use of sovereign debt in many countries’ foreign policy today. To expand on this interest, James plans to focus on studying how international trade and development may be used not only to reduce poverty but also as a tool to promote democracy and prevent wars while as an IIEL Fellow.

When not working on law, James is an avid hiker, runner, and cook. James is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and proficient in French.