James Eklund practices law in the Western U.S. and lectures on policy and democracy. He directed the water and climate change practice at the global law firm, Squire Patton Boggs until forming his own firm, Eklund Hanlon, in 2020. James served as Colorado's principal representative on the Colorado River where he negotiated and executed the first contingency plans to acknowledge and respond to climate change. He also directed the Colorado Water Conservation Board where he was the architect of Colorado's Water Plan, the largest civic engagement exercise in state history. James also served as legal counsel to Colorado's Governor. He studied policy, democracy, and politics at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, received his juris doctorate from the University of Denver, and was awarded his bachelor's degree in political science from Stanford University.