Jim Cain, the former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, has returned to his old job as an attorney with the firm of Kilpatrick Stockton.

Cain came home to Raleigh in January after serving three and half years as an ambassador in Copenhagen for the administration of former President George W. Bush.

A corporate lawyer by trade, Cain may be best known as the former president of the Carolina Hurricanes for two years.

Cain plans to divide his time among the firm's offices in Washington, New York and Raleigh. He has also formed his own marketing firm, Cain Global Partners, LLC, to encourage and assist foreign companies willing to invest in the United States.

Cain has long been active in Republican politics, as a supporter of the late Sen. Jesse Helms and as a fundraiser for Bush, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole and others. His name has been bandied about in the past as a potential GOP candidate for governor.

Raleigh resident Jim Cain, the U.S ambassador to Denmark, received an award from Queen Margarethe.

Her majesty gave Cain the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Dannebrog, the highest order the Danish government can give a foreigner, Rob Christensen reports.

The Queen said she was giving the honor "for making such extraordinary contributions, during difficult times to strengthening the bonds between Denmark and America."

Cain, a Raleigh attorney, is former president of the Carolina Hurricanes. Long active in Republican politics, Cain was a major fund raiser for President Bush.

There had been talk in GOP circles that Jim Cain, the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, might be interested in running for state Republican Party chairman next year.

But Cain says he is not interested, Rob Christensen reports.

"I do not intend to seek the party chairmanship when I return to North Carolina," Cain said in an email from Copenhagen. "I have had a few calls of encouragement on this, but it is not the direction I plan to go in my next endeavor."

Cain, a Raleigh attorney and former president of the Carolina Hurricanes, has been ambassador to Denmark since 2005. But his tenure is likely to end after Democrat Barack Obama takes office.

Cain, 50, had been talked about as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2004 and 2008. And by becoming party chairman would have eased his re-entry into Tar Heel politics.

He cut his teeth in politics as a former political operative to the late Sen. Jesse Helms, and more recently was a fund raiser for President Bush.

State GOP Chairwoman Linda Daves is expected to seek another term at the state convention this spring. But because 2008 was a rough year, there has been some opposition. State Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton, who ran unsuccessfully for governor, has been considering seeking the post.