Harold H. Kim Appointed President of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform; Lisa A. Rickard Transitions to New Role in the Chamber

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today announced that Harold H. Kim, chief operating officer of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), will become president of the Chamber affiliate effective January 1, 2020. Lisa A. Rickard, who has been president of ILR since 2003, will stay on as executive vice president of the Chamber, a title she currently holds, and also take on the role of counselor to the president of the Chamber.

“Harold will run the institute’s efforts to fight lawsuit abuse by advancing commonsense legal reforms in the U.S. and around the world,” said Suzanne Clark, Chamber president. “Harold is one of the most respected professionals in his field, and we look forward to his continued leadership in promoting free enterprise, the rule of law, and initiatives that will improve the litigation climate and strengthen the competitiveness of American businesses.”

“Lisa has played an integral role on the U.S. Chamber team for nearly 20 years. She has been a highly effective leader of our Institute for Legal Reform, a great champion for the legal and business communities, and a valued friend and colleague to me and so many others. We are grateful for all she has done for this organization and look forward to her continued leadership and contributions in her new role,” said Tom Donohue, Chamber CEO.

“Lisa’s transformative leadership for the past 17 years has enormously advanced the cause of legal reform. As president of ILR, she led numerous victories on behalf of business and helped make ILR the leading comprehensive global champion for the business community on legal reform,” said Brackett Denniston, chairman of the board for the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform.

In his past 11 years as a senior executive, Kim led numerous successful legislative legal reform initiatives in key states, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Texas. He also led the business community’s efforts to prompt federal agencies to adopt more rational enforcement policies.

Before joining ILR, Kim was special assistant to the president in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. There he served as former President George W. Bush’s liaison to the Senate on matters involving national security, the judiciary, civil justice reform, intellectual property, and criminal law enforcement.

From 2003 to 2007, Kim served as counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, deputy chief counsel to the late ranking member Arlen Specter, and senior committee counsel for then-Chairman Orrin Hatch. During the passage of the 2005 Class Action Fairness Act, Kim was the committee’s chief civil counsel. He also advised committee members in the areas of asbestos, class action, medical malpractice, and bankruptcy litigation reform.

Prior to government service, Kim was a senior litigation associate at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Patton Boggs, LLP. He is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine and earned a J.D. from the Catholic University of America.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.