J. P. Kumar

Experience

1. Assistant General Counsel

   Caterpillar Inc.

   Oct 2004 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   I currently serve as lead counsel for Caterpillar\'s Global Government & Corporate Affairs Division based in Washington, D.C. I directly support the Vice President of this division along with a wide array of functions reporting up to her-from a global corporate communications team to a worldwide government affairs organization to groups focused on sustainability, community relations, and charitable foundation activities. Working with internal colleagues and subject matter experts as well as outside counsel, I supply legal analysis and counsel to advocacy and communications personnel worldwide in order to inform communications and public policy strategy; ensure compliance with lobbying, gift, and election laws; and mitigate various legal and business risks. In my last position, I led the legal team based in Belfast, United Kingdom and charged with supporting Caterpillar\'s businesses and operations in Northern Ireland, which included three manufacturing facilities and offices. We provided a full range of legal services-commercial, compliance, litigation, regulatory-to Caterpillar\'s electric power generation business.Previously, I supported Caterpillar Global Mining in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where I managed a team responsible for compliance and regulatory issues, litigation, corporate governance, real estate, employment, antitrust, warranty, and commercial support for sales and service operations. In my first position with Caterpilar, I managed a wide range of commercial, product liability, premises, and mass tort litigation and disputes across North America and delivered legal support to product design, development, improvement, and support teams.Community service and pro bono work have been an important part of my legal career. I was deeply involved in the establishment of Caterpillar\'s pro bono program and was the first chair of the Pro Bono Committee. I continue to devote significant time to pro bono and community service activities.

Education

• Dartmouth College

  B.A., History

  1989 — 1993

• The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

  Master of Business Administration (MBA)

  2007 — 2010

• The University of Texas School of Law

  J.D., Law

  1994 — 1997

Skills

• Commercial Litigation
• Product Liability
• Competition Law
• Legal Research
• Mediation
• Regulatory Compliance
• Civil Litigation
• Corporate Governance
• Due Diligence
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Distribution
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Legal Assistance
• Corporate Law