Charles A. James, executive vice president at oil and gas giant Chevron Corp., will leave the company May 2, 2010. James, who intends to retire from the active practice of law, will join the adjunct faculty of the law school at Arizona State University and pursue other charitable ventures.

This move is part of a planned transition under which James led the recruitment of his successor, R. Hewitt Pate, vice president and general counsel. Pate, who will also serve on the company's executive committee, joined the company in August 2009 and has reported to James during this transition period. 

Previously, Pate served as a long-time partner at Hunton & Williams in Washington, DC and headed the firm's global competition practice. Prior, Pate served as the assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina and his law degree from the University of Virginia.

Prior to joining Chevron, James was assistant attorney general in charge of the Antitrust Division at the US Department of Justice. He also practiced law at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue in Washington, D.C., and served in the first Bush administration as deputy and acting assistant attorney general.