Jim Buda is executive vice president of Law and Public Policy, which includes the Legal Services Division and the Global Government & Corporate Affairs Division, at Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria, Ill. He is also chief legal officer of Caterpillar Inc.

Buda joined Caterpillar in 1987 as an attorney in the legal department. He has served in a number of senior corporate attorney positions and was named Associate General Counsel in 1996. In 1999, Buda assumed the position of Associate General Counsel for the Legal Services Division in the United Kingdom. He has held his current position since 2001.

Buda has a bachelor's degree from Ball State University, a law degree from the University of Notre Dame and completed a Harvard University executive program.

Buda is a member of the American Bar Association, American Corporate Counsel Association, American Society of Corporate Secretaries, American Trial Lawyers Association, Association of General Counsels, Civil Justice Reform Group, Corporate Executive Board - General Counsel Roundtable, Defense Research Institute, Federation of Corporate and Insurance Counsel, Illinois and Indiana State Bar Associations, International Association of Defense Counsel, Product Liability Advisory Council, Trial Attorneys of America, Who's Who in American Law and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation Board.

About Caterpillar:
For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2012 sales and revenues of $65.875 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.caterpillar.com.