ArentFox Schiff‘s international trade and investment group, which is chaired by David Hamill out of Washington DC but consists of lawyers spread across the US, assists with a range of customs, export controls and economic sanctions-related issues. New York-based Angela Santos leads the customs practice, which is sought out by clients for classification, value and origin advice, often in the automotive, fashion and consumer products industries. Sylvia Costelloe, based in Los Angeles, spearheads the export controls subgroup, which deals with a variety of issues related to EAR, ITAR, and OFAC sanctions and embargoes. Kay Georgi has a wealth of experience navigating export control and sanctions issues for large companies, as does another key lawyer in the team, Christopher Skinner.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Matthew Tuchband is a star both for responsiveness, knowledge, and understanding the client's business.’
- ‘On the export and export controls side, we absolutely appreciate the guidance from Kay Georgi and her group. Good practical advice, with helpful work on tools and training. On the import side, David Hamill has a great group as well.’
- ‘Matthew Tuchband and Kay Georgi are a powerful combination in terms of expertise in complex regulation and insight into the inner workings at Treasury, Commerce, and Trade. They are both in demand for good reason and partner well to understand the client's business, unlike others with cookie-cutter responses.’
- ‘Kay Georgi is a great professional with a sharp legal mind and excellent personal skills. Matthew Tuchband brings strong competence on OFAC procedures. Sylvia Costelloe is also noteworthy, with good legal and language skills - an individual you can rely upon.’
- ‘The ArentFox Schiff team combines brilliant professionals with exceptional responsiveness and an unmatched ability to rapidly understand complex business needs. Their direct connections with regulatory authorities and deep OFAC experience delivers practical solutions that competitors simply cannot match.’
- ‘Kay Georgi stands out as a preeminent expert in export controls and sanctions, bringing decades of experience, remarkable responsiveness, and cross-industry knowledge. Matthew Tuchband adds unparalleled insider perspective through his extensive OFAC background, while Sylvia Costelloe excels in navigating complex export control challenges with exceptional technical mastery and strategic thinking.’
Key clients
- Dover Corporation
- Avient Corporation and RISC-V International
- BBC News
- RTX Corporation
- Ametek
- Crown Holdings
- Kingston Technology
- Momentive Performance Materials Quartz, Inc.
Work highlights
Presented webinars regarding forced labor developments to the American Apparel & Footwear Association; National Retail Federation; Retail Industry Leaders Association; United States Fashion Industry Association; Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association; Automotive Industry Action Group; Sedex; Sayari; PV Module Tech; and Canadian Transportation Equipment Association.
Advises Dover Corporation on both import and export investigations, False Claims Act investigations, audits, compliance trainings, classifications, and compliance strategies.
Provides guidance to BBC News regarding compliance with U.S. economic sanctions laws.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Sylvia Costelloe; Angela Santos; David Hamill
Other key lawyers
Kay Georgi; Christopher Skinner; Matthew Tuchband