International trade powerhouse Akin fields one of the most comprehensive practices in the market. Equally adept at representing companies, industries, and foreign governments, the Washington DC-based group combines strong skill sets in trade policy and trade remedies with an extensive global footprint that takes in platforms in key trade centers in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The group is commended for possessing ‘the manpower to tackle larger cases’, recently evidenced by Matthew Nicely‘s representation of HMTX Industries, and more than 100 additional plaintiffs, in a major challenge to the US government’s Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods—among the largest group of related cases ever brought before the US Court of International Trade (CIT). Stephen Kho fronts the trade policy team and is advising the Consumer Technology Association on trade policy issues impacting the consumer electronics industry, including Section 301 tariffs in multiple jurisdictions and laws affecting supply chain management. The deep bench also draws on Bernd Janzen, who acts for US and foreign clients across a range of trade litigation matters, up-and-coming trade litigator Yujin Kim McNamara, and Hal Shapiro a former Senior Advisor for International Economic Policy at the National Economic Council.

Widely regarded as a destination practice for trade disputes and policy matters, Hogan Lovells US LLP is noted for its ability to provide ‘strong legal counsel but also strategic advice’. The group routinely links up with its international offices to offer capability across an array of Europe, Asia, Latin America and UK-related issues, with notable expertise in handling matters relating to trade with China, particularly Section 201 and 301 cases. In a recent example of its involvement in headline-grabbing work, department co-chair Deen Kaplan paired up with Kelly Ann Shaw to score a major win for Ukraine-based Interpipe, when the Department of Commerce (DOC) announced that it was removing all Section 232 duties assessed against Ukrainian steel for at least a year, overturning a 2018 decision implemented by the Trump administration. In another major win, Craig Lewis acted alongside Kaplan to successfully represent Brazilian millwork exporter Araupel in obtaining a DOC determination that imports of wood mouldings and millwork products from Brazil should not be subject to antidumping duties. The Washington DC-based group also includes ‘innovative thinker’ Jonathan Stoel, senior counsel and trade policy specialist Warren Maruyama and Jared Wessel, who has strong experience in matters at the intersection of trade and labor rights. Additionally, senior associate Maria Arboleda is highlighted as an ‘exceptional lawyer in trade defense instruments’.

Among White & Case LLP’s key attributes, clients highlight its ‘depth of knowledge and experience across complex antidumping and countervailing duties issues’. Alongside its premier trade remedies practice—which is routinely involved in major trade investigations on behalf of producers, importers and governments—the team also houses formidable trade policy and WTO offerings. The steel industry remains a significant sweet spot for the group; among its work in this sphere, high-profile trade litigator, Gregory Spak, is representing steel producer Gerdau Metaldom in a WTO dispute concerning the Dominican Republic’s antidumping measures on corrugated steel bar imports from Costa Rica. Global international trade head David Bond is also highly sought after for trade remedy disputes and trade policy matters; he is representing Sylvamo, a paper mill company, in a review of the antidumping duty order on uncoated paper from Brazil. Other key contacts in the Washington DC-based team include Jay Campbell, who is representing Marmen in proceedings related to antidumping and countervailing duties on utility scale wind towers from Canada, and senior associate Ron Kendler, who has a ‘unique ability to explain complex concepts clearly’.

King & Spalding LLP finds favor for its lawyers’ ‘knowledge, innovative thinking and preparation for cases’. The firm’s trade litigation offering forms a key part of its full-service international trade practice and it possesses extensive experience in the full scope of trade remedies, trade policy, WTO matters and related regulatory work. Stephen Orava chairs the Washington DC-based team and has a focus on trade remedies, WTO dispute settlement proceedings and climate change-related trade issues. Orava recently represented an ad hoc coalition of American superabsorbent polymer producers in filing petitions at the DOC and ITC seeking antidumping relief against superabsorbent polymer imports from South Korea. A former General Counsel of USTR, Stephen Vaughn is notably spearheading the firm’s representation of Cleveland-Cliffs in five-year reviews of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of corrosion-resistant steel, cold-rolled steel and hot-rolled steel. Other key contacts include Michael Taylor, whose practice spans customs and trade remedy-related matters, senior counsel Neal Reynolds, and Jamieson Greer, who maintains a broad trade practice with a focus on trade remedies and trade policy and negotiations.

Regulatory powerhouse Arnold & Porter possesses an effective trade litigation offering, which is particularly prominent in representing foreign governments and industry; reflecting the wider firm’s formidable sovereign state practice. On the trade remedy front, department chair David Park acted for Hyundai Steel Company in 15 trade related proceedings over the past year, including eight separate proceedings before the DOC. Park splits his practice between Washington DC and Seoul and is particularly noted for his involvement in Asia-related cases. Among the team’s recent work for sovereigns, Lynn Fischer Fox—a former Deputy Assistant Secretary with DOC—is advising the Province of Alberta as respondent in the US countervailing duty case concerning imports of softwood lumber from Canada. In another significant sovereign-side matter, senior counsel Claire Reade is leading the team’s ongoing representation of the Government of Israel on international trade matters, including advice on US laws and regulations.

Lawyers at Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP ‘explore every avenue to obtain positive results’, according to clients. The international-facing team, which draws on several partners who split their practice between two or more country offices, worked with exporters from 11 different nations over the past year. Alongside its extensive global reach, the group is distinguished by its representation of both corporate and sovereign clients. ‘Gifted trade lawyer’ and department chair Daniel Porter operates from Washington DC, Geneva and Beijing; he recently represented Australia’s BlueScope in multiple different trade law projects, including defending BlueScope’s interests in a sunset review before the ITC. Matthew McCullough divides his time between DC and Geneva and is held up by one source as ‘likely the top countervailing duty and subsidy rule lawyer in the DC trade bar’; he represented the Spanish table olive industry association, ASEMESA, in various trade remedies cases. The team also benefits from the experience of seasoned trade litigator James Durling, who splits his practice between DC and Geneva.

With ‘strong capability and insight in the trade area’, Mayer Brown houses a truly global practice, which is co-led from Washington DC, London and Brussels. On the trade remedies front, the Washington DC-based group represents both petitioners and respondents across the full range of issues, including antidumping cases, safeguard actions and Section 232 matters. The team also houses an active trade policy practice, which has considerable experience in appearing before various bilateral, regional and multilateral institutions, including the WTO. Duane Layton, who stepped down as international trade head in January 2023, is noted for his expertise in international dispute settlement; he also handles trade remedies. Matthew McConkey now leads the trade remedies and policy practice; he is representing US Steel Corporation in the Section 232 investigation on imported steel. The team also draws on Sydney Mintzer, who handles a mix of customs and trade remedies litigation, and Jing Zhang, who splits her practice between Washington DC and Beijing and is well versed across a range of trade matters, including antidumping and anti-subsidy cases.

The ‘very deep and experienced’ group at McDermott Will & Emery LLP handles a broad mix of trade remedy and policy issues, with strong skill sets in countervailing duty and antidumping proceedings, WTO and NAFTA dispute settlement, and trade negotiations. Increasingly sought after by sovereign clients, the Washington DC-based team has recently assisted the UK Government with various trade negotiations, including UK-Mexico, UK-CPTPP and others. It also continues to represent the Government of Canada in the ongoing dispute with the US over US imports of softwood lumber from Canada. Carolyn Gleason co-heads the practice and is acting for Musco Family Olive Co in several trade proceedings involving US olive imports from Spain. Other key contacts include counsels Raymond Paretzky and David Levine, both of whom handle a range of import relief, customs, export controls and trade sanctions matters. Counsel Timothy Hruby recently joined the DOC, and in May 2023 a team around former department co-chair Joanne Osendarp, Eric Parnes and Alan Kashdan also left the firm.

‘A well-oiled machine’, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s international trade practice receives rave reviews for its collaborative approach. The group’s broad experience is also frequently noted; as one client asserts, ‘there is nothing that this team has not seen or experienced through its portfolio’. The wider firm’s impressive defense offering is a significant source of mandates here, particularly the aerospace sphere, while it also handles a steady stream of work on behalf of energy, technology and sovereign clients. Department co-chair Nancy Fischer is held up as ‘the most astute international trade counsel on the market’; she is representing a large group of US nuclear utilities (known as the Ad Hoc Utilities Group) on trade remedy matters, including on proceedings at the DOC, ITC and CIT. Fellow co-chair Stephan Becker advises on a wide range of trade matters, including trade remedies, trade policy, export controls and customs issues; he is representing the Government of Mexico in ongoing trade remedy proceedings involving a suspension agreement on imports of sugar. Aaron Hutman and counsel Benjamin Cote also advise on trade remedies and trade policy matters.

Trade policy and trade remedy matters are key pillars of WilmerHale’s overarching international trade offering. The team is differentiated by its ability to plug into the wider firm’s thriving government relations and public policy practices and it is regularly involved in sensitive and high-profile investigations, disputes and negotiations. Department chair David Ross is a former international trade counsel to the US Senate and ‘goes the extra mile for his clients’. Ross recently paired up with Jeffrey Kessler, a former Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance at the DOT, to represent US phosphate fertilizer producer, The Mosaic Company, in a series of trade litigation cases concerning countervailing duty orders on fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia. Firm co-managing partner Robert Novick is sought after for his combination of international investment, trade policy, negotiation and government affairs expertise; he continues to act alongside Kessler to represent Boeing in the long-running US-EU aircraft disputes at the WTO. The Washington DC-based group also includes special counsel Lauren Mandell, who was formerly at the USTR, where he was a key official in the negotiation of the USMCA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

BakerHostetler strikes the right note with clients for its ‘experience and results in getting cases resolved’. Trade remedy litigation is a cornerstone of the firm’s full-service international trade practice and it is particularly recognized for its long-standing representation of Canadian lumber producers in the softwood lumber trade dispute between the US and Canada. Washington DC-based Michael S. Snarr co-heads the department and is acting alongside Elliot J. Feldman, also in DC, to represent its Central Canada lumber clients in antidumping and countervailing duty administrative reviews. DC-based counsel Ronald Baumgarten is also a key contact for trade litigation.

‘A top-notch firm’, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP’s increasingly prominent practice handles sophisticated trade policy and trade remedy matters. Arguably best known for its record in the steel industry, where it represents major global producers such as POSCO and Hyundai Steel in high-stakes antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, the group’s recent work also spans the lumber, chemicals and food spheres. Julie Mendoza steers the group from Washington DC and is representing steel pipe manufacturer Borusan Mannesmann in multiple antidumping and countervailing duty cases, as well as in exclusion requests from Section 232 duties. Will Planert and Brady Mills are also experienced trade litigators—both are based in DC.