James Lai is a Director at the Vogel Group.

Before joining Vogel Group, James Lai served as a Director at Lot Sixteen, an integrated government relations and communications firm. He led the firm’s trade analysis on international energy trade issues including Uyghur Human Rights legislation, Nordstream sanctions, and Section 201, 232, 301, and 307 tariffs. He also worked closely on transmission, storage, solar and wind tax credits, carbon capture, and recycling issues.

Prior to K Street, James worked in the US Senate for two years, splitting time between Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senator Maria Cantwell’s office (D-WA), along with a handful of international nonprofits and NGOs.

Hailing from Seattle, James was instilled with an interest in the outdoors and the environment at a young age. He received his BA in History and International Studies from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. In his free time, James is an avid rower, skier, cyclist, and sailor. He also is a European and Asian history enthusiast, with a keen eye towards architectural and cultural preservation.