Jim Skelton has practiced law for more than 42 years, focusing primarily on upstream international petroleum transactions, such as joint venture projects, business development in emerging markets, and acquisitions and divestitures, all of which has taken him to over 35 countries in the Former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The first five years of his career were spent in private practice, after which he worked for Conoco Inc./ConocoPhillips for nearly 28 years before retiring in 2008. Thereafter, he returned to private practice as a solo practitioner and an international legal consultant. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center from 2008 to 2016, teaching the course in Energy Law: Doing Business in Emerging Markets.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Arizona State University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law and a Master of Laws degree in International Legal Studies from New York University. He has published 20 articles for legal periodicals and books, and has made 14 presentations at international conferences in Houston, Dallas, London and Moscow. He is the coauthor of the second edition of the textbook “Doing Business in Emerging Markets: A Transactional Course,” and the author of a memoir, "Volunteering in Ethiopia: a Peace Corps Odyssey." He is currently working on an anthology as an author and the lead editor, and just completing a novel.