James Lager

About James Lager

Chief ethics adviser for a large accountability organization, and principal counselor and investigator matters involving conflicts of interest, ethics, personal and organizational independence, and a business school professor on ethics. Prior experience includes legal representation in labor and employment matters in federal, state and administrative tribunals, and as lead congressional investigator examining violation of certain federal campaign lawsSpecialties: Ethics, compliance, training and facilitation, auditor independence, internal investigations, employee behavior, organization development, litigation, labor and employment law, administrative law, Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley, GAGAS, Codes of Ethics.

Experience

1. Deputy Ethics Counselor & Chief Ethics Adviser

   Us Government Accountability Office

   Jan 2002 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Manager of GAO\'s ethics program and principal adviser and investigator on conflict of interest, ethics, personal and organizational independence.Lead or supervise sensitive investigations concerning employee misconduct, including conflicts of interest, threats to independence, unlawful discrimination and violation of sexual misconduct policy. Organizational stakeholder on engagements involving ethics and related matters in federal programs and operations, decide on recusals, divestiture, and employee participation in certain matters Conduct conflict of interest and ethics reviews for appointees to several health care advisory committees, including the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Highly regarded for sound counsel, and for the design and delivery of training in several areas, including ethics generally and compliance, independence, behavioral ethics, social media, management development, and various aspects of supervision.

Education

• School of Public Affairs, American University

  Master of Science - MS (with the NTL Institute)

  1998 — 2000

• American University Washington College of Law

  JD

  1981 — 1984

• Michigan State University

  BA

  1978 — 1981