Mr. Montes is currently a partner at the global law firm Nixon Peabody LLP, based in Manhattan.  His practice concentrates in public and project finance. He has been involved in public and private securities offerings and securities registration, and has served as bond and underwriter’s counsel in connection with tax-exempt and taxable bond financings. He also leads Nixon Peabody’s New York State practice serving local municipalities as bond counsel. His legal experience is enhanced by more than 20 years as a senior executive in the banking industry prior to becoming an attorney.  

"The Touro Law community is excited to welcome Jim Montes as Assistant Dean of Career Services.  His perspective includes considerable practice experience at a major global law firm, involvement in various bar associations, a commitment to diversity and a wonderful network that will benefit our students and alumni," said Dean Salkin.

Mr. Montes created, and currently chairs Nixon Peabody’s Latino Affinity Network, and is a member of the firm-wide Pro-Bono Committee and the NYC Recruiting Committee.  In his role as chair of the Latino Affinity Network, he has hosted law school events at the firm and he has spoken on various panels about life as an attorney of color at a large firm. He has been involved in preparing law students for interviews and advising them on career strategies.

Mr. Montes is a current member of the Town of Brookhaven Hispanic Advisory Board.  He previously served as a member of the Stony Brook University President’s Advisory Committee and on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Long Island, where he also served as Chair of its Cultural Diversity Task Force.  He is past member of the Allocations Committee of United Way of LI, and in 1999 he was appointed (and later elected Chair) by U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin to a Citizen Advocacy Panel to oversee improvements in customer service at the IRS. 

He received a B.S. in Finance and International Business from NYU, and his J.D. from Fordham. He is a member of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.

He has received numerous honors and awards, most recently Networking Magazine’s prestigious David Award for achievements not only as a business leader but also for his community work.  He was also recognized as a Touro Law Center’s Public Interest Attorney of the Year in 2010.