James D. Barnette

James D. Barnette is a partner in Steptoe's Washington office, where he is a member of the Government Affairs & Public Policy Group. He focuses his practice on energy, telecommunications, healthcare, and environmental law.

Mr. Barnette has the unique distinction of serving as General Counsel for the US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce under all four Republican Chairmen (Fred Upton (R-MI), Joe Barton (R-TX), Billy Tauzin (R-LA), and Tom Bliley (R-VA) since 1994. In that capacity, he helped enact over 100 public laws, including the landmark Medicare Modernization Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and legislation in areas as diverse as bioterrorism preparedness, energy, telecommunications reform, consumer protection, and e-commerce. In 2011, he served as a principal advisor to Chairman Upton on healthcare, Clean Air Act legislation, and major telecommunications reforms.

On Capitol Hill he served in the following roles:

Principal advocate for the Committee’s position with the Senate, House leadership, House Parliamentarian and other House Committees (including Agriculture, Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, Judiciary, and Ways and Means).
Led the Committee’s oversight and investigation of the Solyndra loan, sport utility vehicle rollovers, accounting improprieties in the energy sector, and the California energy crisis.



Good to know

Areas of Practice 1) Congressional Oversight & Investigations and 2) Government Affairs & Public Policy
Law School Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.,1990)
Education Yale University (B.A., 1985)
Bar Member / Association District of Columbia
Most recent firm Steptoe & Johnson
Relevant Jobs
Supervisory Attorney
USA-DC-Washington

Serves as a manager for attorneys and support staff. Reports directly to the Assistant Chief Counsel for Acquisition & Fiscal Law (AGC-500). Provides expert legal advice, interpretations, opinions, an...

Apply now

Senior FOIA Law Clerk
USA-DC-Washington

C2 ALASKA, LLC 100% Remote The Law Clerk III Senior Office of Support Operations shall provide support to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of Support Operations (OSO). ...

Apply now

Summer Clerkship
USA-DC-Washington

Summer Clerkship The candidate must be current law school students with strong writing skills who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Committee’s work. The strongest candidates will als...

Apply now

+ View more jobs
George A. Cumming
George A. Cumming

George A. Cumming is counsel in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. He concentrates his practice on complex litigation across a wide range of substantive areas including antitrust, intellectual property, and financial services litigation.

Harry T. Robins
Harry T. Robins

Harry T. Robins is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Antitrust Practice. Mr. Robins represents clients, including a number of prominent private equity firms and Fortune 500 companies, before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

John Clayton Everett Jr
John Clayton Everett Jr

J. Clayton 'Clay' Everett, Jr. is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Antitrust Practice. In 2012, he was one of five lawyers in the United States recognized by Law360 as a "Rising Star" in the field of Antitrust Law.