Jim Burnley

Biography provided by participant

Jim Burnley, a partner in the Washington office of Venable LLP, is widely recognized as one of the nation's foremost authorities on transportation law and policy. He served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (1987-1989) and as Deputy Secretary of Transportation (1983-1987) under President Ronald Reagan. He also served as General Counsel of the Department. Burnley maintains a visible presence in the transportation community and is engaged in the continuing debate over transportation policy issues. He has served as an advisor to Republican Presidential candidates in five of the last six campaigns. He was Chairman of the Port Study Panel of the National Chamber of Commerce Foundation. He is also a member of the Business Advisory Committee of the Transportation Center at Northwestern University. Additionally, he served for five years as Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Virginia Port Authority. In private practice for the last twenty years, his clients have covered the entire spectrum of transportation issues and interests. For example, he played a key role on behalf of the airline industry in the successful effort immediately after 9/11 to have legislation enacted to save it from completely collapsing. He received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.