James B. Noel

Chief Legal Officer

James B. Noel is the Chief Legal Officer of the United States Golf Association. He oversees and manages all legal matters and provides legal and strategic business counsel to the Association.

He has practiced sports law throughout his career. He worked previously as an attorney and executive for the National Football League and ESPN. He also was in private practice with the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine. 

Noel also has extensive experience as a guest lecturer and teacher. He has participated in numerous legal seminars on sports law and been a visiting professor and guest lecturer on sports and intellectual property law and the sports media business. 

He is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and the University of Oregon School of Journalism.