Akin

An international trade powerhouse, Akin provides standalone expertise in all core trade areas, including dominant offerings in both customs and import controls, and export controls and economic sanctions. Fielding one of the largest trade departments in the market, the already-sizeable group was additionally boosted in July 2023 with the hire of a team from Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, which included Ryan Fayhee, Roy Liu and Tyler Grove—all of whom have significant export controls and economic sanctions expertise. Other key names for export controls and economic sanctions include Kevin Wolf, a veteran in the national security field; regulatory practice leader Thomas J McCarthy, whose experience cuts across export controls, sanctions and customs laws; former federal prosecutor Jonathan Poling, who specializes in regulatory and enforcement actions before the the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) among others; and technology specialist Shiva Aminian, who splits her time between Los Angeles and San Francisco and leads the international trade practice on the West Coast. The customs department is co-led by Lars-Erik Hjelm and Suzanne Kane, who together contribute extensive experience in representing corporations on import and export regulations, including in investigations and enforcement matters administered by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Experienced former chief counsel at OFAC Jason Prince arrived from Crowell & Moring LLP in April 2024. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.