James Edwards

James Edwards, Ph.D., founded the coalition Conservatives for Property Rights (@4PropertyRights) in 2017 and serves as its Executive Director. Additionally, Edwards is Patent Policy Advisor to Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund and Federal Affairs Manager with the Committee for Justice as strategist and advisor for its Alliance on Antitrust. He has worked on intellectual property, healthcare, antitrust, and other policy issues since his days as a congressional staffer. 

Edwards provides thought leadership, particularly on patent issues. He is Contributor at IPWatchdog.com, a leading IP online journal. He has been published by Intellectual Asset Management magazine, IEEE-USA Insight, Real Clear Policy, Investor’s Business Daily, and Townhall. Edwards authored the acclaimed report, Property Rights:  The Key to National Wealth and National Security, which explains the critical role of patents in achieving industrial competitiveness. He coauthored The Congressional Politics of Immigration Reform with Univ. of Maryland Professor James Gimpel. His writings have been assigned in law school classes and Continuing Legal Education courses.

Edwards has spoken on patents and IP across the country, including at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada), S.C. Life Sciences Startup University, many congressional briefings, and events hosted by the Inventor's Project, of which Edwards has served as Co-Director. Edwards appears in the 2022 documentary film, Innovation Race. He played an instrumental role in establishing the bipartisan Congressional Inventions Caucus and organizing caucus events. He also participates in the Heritage Foundation’s Intellectual Property Working Group and the Medical Device Manufacturers Association's Patent Working Group.

Edwards began his Capitol Hill career with U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) and ended it as Legislative Director to U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant (R-Tenn.). He also handled legislative and press duties for Tennessee Congressman Jimmy Duncan. His congressional staff responsibilities included the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, the House Select Aging Committee, and a range of legislative matters. Edwards also worked at the Republican National Committee as Senior Speechwriter. Edwards holds a doctorate from the University of Tennessee in Communications, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Georgia in Speech Communication.