James L. Watts

Jim began his professional career as a Legislative Assistant to the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, DC. From there he became a Registered Lobbyist and attorney representing the organized Venture Capital industry. As a specialist in tax and securities law he worked with the U.S. Congress, regulatory agencies and Presidential Administrations on “both sides of the aisle”.

In 1987 Jim joined a securities firm in Southern California and subsequently spent most of his career as an institutional investment banker. In 1995 he incorporated Pacific Summit Capital (“PSC”) and in 1999 purchased an NASD Broker/Dealer which he renamed Pacific Summit Securities (“PSS”). PSS enjoyed a diversified banking practice consisting primarily of M&A and Corporate Finance. In 2004 PSS was ranked in the 92nd percentile (out of 1129 placement agents nationwide) for the number of PIPE transactions completed and in the 87th percentile for the number of dollars raised.

In 2002 Jim became actively involved in litigation and expert witness testimony with the bankruptcy liquidation of the Schwinn Bicycle Company. Since then he has testified as an expert in local, State and Federal courts in cases involving both commercial disputes and white-collar criminal charges. In addition, throughout his career Jim has prepared formal valuations and fairness opinions for both commercial transactions and for regulatory reporting purposes.

Jim received his BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, his MA in International Economics from the American University in Washington, DC and his JD from the Washington College of Law. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the United States Supreme Court Bar. Jim additionally holds Series 7, 24, 27,63 and 79 securities licenses.