Well weighted between customs work and export controls and sanctions matters, ArentFox Schiff finds favor for its ‘great forensic and legal expertise as well as practical experience and guidance’. As a part of the wider firm’s full-service international trade department, the Washington DC-based group benefits from its ability to draw on complementary offerings in forced labor laws and trade litigation, among other areas. High-profile figure Kay Georgi is highly regarded for export controls and sanctions work, where she specializes in representing clients before BIS, the DDTC and OFAC; she also has a significant customs component to her practice. Experienced counsel Matthew Tuchband is additionally recommended for export controls and sanctions, where he provides ’both technical and practical advice’ due to his former position as a Deputy Chief Counsel at OFAC. On the customs side, international trade and investment chair David Hamill is noted; he handles the full range of matters with a focus on duty preference programs, duty deferral programs, customs valuation and country of origin marking. Marwa Hassoun left the firm for an in-house position.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Highly skilled, very experienced and knowledgeable team with direct experience in a wide range of areas.’
- ‘Kay Georgi is an impressive lawyer. Thorough technical knowledge combined with a solar personality makes her really outstanding. We never had anything to object to in her advice and she always finds a way to accommodate the clients' needs. Matthew Tuchband is a great lawyer too.’
- ‘Matthew Tuchband and Derek Ha have been invaluable in helping us navigate our way through the complexities and nuances of OFAC regulations. Their insight, commercial practicality, and diligence has been the key component in us understanding our issues and finding a practical resolution.’
- ‘A very knowledgeable and experienced team. Great forensic and legal expertise as well as practical experience and guidance.’
- ‘Matthew Tuchband has deep knowledge of US sanctions, particularly those against Cuba. He is responsive and easy to work with.’
- ‘Matthew Tuchband is extremely knowledgeable on US Sanctions issues. His experience is unmatched and he is able to provide both technical and practical advice in light of his experience with OFAC. Matthew responds quickly and provides advice in a straightforward and coherent manner.’
- ‘Kay Georgi holds a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the issues at hand, as well as the ability to translate this knowledge to a practical approach tailor-made for the client's needs. Ms. Georgi is also very pleasant to work with.’
- ‘Kay Georgi's and Matthew Tuchband’s legal skills and mastery of technical details are first rate. Their staggering ability to understand complex technical issues is always very helpful. I also appreciated the professionalism and the commitment of senior associate Sylvia Costelloe.’
Key clients
- Government of Quebec
- Assan Aluminyum
- Hanwha Q Cells
- Crown Holdings, Kingston Technology, and many others
- Dover Corporation
- AeroVironment, Inc.
- Forced Labor Guidance
- Crown Cork & Seal
Work highlights
- Advising clients on compliance with forced labor laws, including evaluating supply chains for forced labor risks.
- Advising Dover Corporation on both import and export investigations, audits, compliance trainings, classifications, and compliance strategies.
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
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
David Hamill