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James Bender was named senior vice president and general counsel for Williams in Dec. 2002.
He most recently served in a similar position for NRG Energy from 1994 to 2002. At NRG
Bender’s primary responsibilities included managing the legal department and providing advice
and counsel to senior management and the board of directors regarding proposed acquisitions
divestitures and development projects as well as capital markets offerings and litigation.
From 1996-97 Bender served as assistant general counsel for AlliedSignal (now Honeywell).
From 1993-94 Bender practiced corporate and securities law with the Minneapolis law firms
Leonard Street & Deinard and as senior counsel for Pfizer from 1989 to 1993. From 1988-
89 Bender worked for Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand in the firm’s Denver and London
offices. From 1983-88 he was an associate in the corporate department of Gibson Dunn &
Crutcher. Following law school Bender served as a law clerk for Judge Donald D. Alsop in
the federal district court in St. Paul Minn.
Education
Bender earned his juris doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota Law School where
he graduated magna cum laude. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with
an undergraduate degree in mathematics from St. Olaf College.
Industry/Community Leadership
Bender is a member of the Oklahoma Colorado and American Bar Associations and the
Association of Corporate Counsel. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa Area United
Way and has been actively involved in the TAUW’s annual fund raising campaigns. Bender is
a member of the Philbrook Board of Trustees where he serves on the Facilities Committee.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Parent Child Center of Tulsa where he
serves as Treasurer-Elect.
Speaking Experience
Bender has had significant public speaking experience at Continuing Legal Education Seminars.
He has been a featured speaker at the American Bar Association’s Construction Law Forum
a panelist and speaker at an SEC update course and has presented at several Energy
and Project Finance seminars sponsored by various law firms. He also has made numerous
internal presentations on legal topics principally related to securities environmental and
transactional law and practice. | 