J. Michael Cavanaugh, a partner in the Washington DC office of Holland & Knight, is a lawyer specializing in international energy and logistics project development. He also advises academic institutions on overseas collaborative activities. Mike has advised several African governments and international financial institutions on privatization policy and modernization of laws, has lectured at the Institute for Legal Practice Development in Rwanda, and has assisted clients in more than a dozen African nations.

Mike is a graduate of Stanford Law School, and teaches international commercial law as an adjunct professor at the American University’s Washington College of Law. He serves on the Political Science Department Advisory Board at The Ohio State University, where he received his undergraduate degree.

Mike is also active in several technology start-up ventures, including a company headquartered in East Africa developing solar power and battery projects, and a research and development project to implement advanced methods for food grain decontamination, also focused on African markets. Mike holds a U.S. patent on advanced methods for seawater desalination.

Mike and his wife Susan have four sons and reside in Arlington, Virginia. They are frequent visitors to East Africa.