Jim Pickup is a partner at DLA Piper, an international law firm; president of the Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII); and general counsel of the Aspen Institute. In 2000 and 2001, Jim served as Sen. George Mitchell’s representative when the former U.S. senator chaired the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, an international committee established by the United States, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan, the European Union and the United Nations to examine the crisis between the Israelis and Palestinians and make recommendations to prevent its recurrence. Jim played a significant role in the committee’s activities and the drafting of its report, which has become known as the Mitchell Plan.

Jim graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University’s Law School; received a Master of Arts degree in international affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs; and graduated with honors from a master’s program at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.