James Pickup

Biography

Jim Pickup is President and CEO of the Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII) and General Counsel of the Aspen Institute. He is also a founding partner of Impact Capital Strategies, a consulting firm focused on impact investing. Building on the conviction that a sound economic base is one clear path to social and political stability, MEII designs innovative development finance initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa. At the Aspen Institute, Jim serves as the organization's primary attorney and was a Henry Crown Fellow. From 1997-2013, Jim was a partner and associated at DLA Piper, an international law firm; and in 2000-2001, he served as Senator George Mitchell's representative when the Senator chaired the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, an international committee established to examine the crisis between the Israelis and Palestinians and make recommendations to prevent its recurrence. Jim graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, received a Master in International Affairs degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and graduated with honors (M.A. hons.) from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.