Representative Experience
- Aviation Aerospace & Transportation
- Representing U.S. and non-U.S. carriers before the U.S. Department of Transportation in enforcement cases alleging violations of advertising guidelines, cabotage, licensing requirements and reporting obligations.
- Representing and counseling Asian, Latin American and European airlines in code-sharing, bilateral, safety oversight and commercial and antitrust issues related to strategic alliances involving United Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines.
- Representing a consortium of Latin American carriers before the U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of State in obtaining approval of the first use of a single airline code and trade name by multiple carriers.
- Advice to global carriers regarding compliance with proposed U.S. Department of Transportation regulations pertaining to the transportation of disabled passengers and consumer protection.
- Advising a major Japan-based carrier on day-to-day U.S. regulatory requirements, bilateral negotiations and alliance matters.
- Advice regarding statutes and policies restricting foreign investment in U.S. carriers, the sale of route authority and the legality of third parties obtaining security interests in international route certificates and airport slots held by other carriers.
- Representing Chinese-foreign joint venture carriers before the U.S. Department of Transportation, FAA, CBP and TSA in obtaining all approvals to operate to the United States.
- Representing a major U.S. carrier in negotiations with United Air Lines leading to the long-term lease of Brazil operating frequencies.
- Climate Change & Sustainability
- Advised one of the world's leading industrial mineral producers on creating a strategic plan to address potential GHG emission regulations and identifying business opportunities that have arisen from such regulations.
- Adviser to one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the U.S. on national and state legislation and strategic initiatives related to climate change and sustainability.
- Communications
- Represented the VON Coalition since its inception in 1997 in all VoIP proceedings at the FCC and state regulatory commissions.
- Representing O3b Limited, an innovative provider of very high speed, low-latency satellite links, in complex spectrum proceedings in the United States.
- Represented Starbucks on the international launch of VIA, advising on strategy for novel product claims, comparative advertising, packaging, positioning against Kenco and Nescafe, and EU and Far East regulatory issues.
- Cybersecurity, Data Protection & Privacy
- Successfully resolved a major international data breach involving some of the world’s highest profile web brands, including the pursuit of perpetrator across multiple countries to recover stolen data.
- Advising a leading global technology and cybersecurity company on international data transfers issues and their Binding Corporate Rules application.
- Advising one of the world’s leading digital advertising and media businesses on a "Privacy by Design" audit and development of new policy to limit General Data Protection Regulation enforcement risks.
- Energy
- Advising Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation in developing its internal organization, including establishing the UAE nuclear regulatory structure and nuclear liability insurance regime.
- Represented seven applicants seeking to obtain combined operating licenses for 11 plants from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including the first new nuclear plant at a greenfield site.
- Represent the manufacturer in numerous transactions tied to the development of a small modular reactor technology.
- Environment & Natural Resources
- Represented Teck Metals Inc. in developing and successfully negotiating what has been called an “historic,” transnational agreement with the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Won unanimous decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit in challenge to EPA’s stringent new standards regarding permissible air emission levels when incinerating sewage sludge.
- Advising San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) on major infrastructure projects including extensions to San Francisco and Oakland airports, Warm Springs, Antioch and Livermore.
- Financial Services Regulation and Consumer Finance
- Represented large foreign banking organizations regarding many regulatory aspects of the Federal Reserve’s enhanced prudential standards rule.
- Structured unprecedented settlements between Swiss financial institutions and U.S. prosecutors, enabling clients to avoid potentially billions of dollars in exposure under U.S. tax laws and avoid criminal prosecution.
- Represented a major financial institution and its board of directors in investigations by bank regulatory agencies and Department of Justice regarding alleged participation in money laundering and related issues.
- Government Contracts
- Represented one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers in all phases of a U.S. Air Force competitive procurement and through subsequent production of fighter jets sold under the Foreign Military Sales program.
- Assisted Front Porch Corp. in obtaining facility waivers and stopping administrative proceedings by the Department of Labor related to affirmative action plan requirements.
- Represented private equity firm Liberty Hall Capital and Accurus Aerospace as regulatory counsel in the acquisition of six recent aerospace parts manufacturers, including AIM Aerospace and Bromford Industries.
- International Trade
- Serving for years as U.S. counsel to the Mexican government with respect to NAFTA, WTO and other trade-related issues.
- Advised U.S. and foreign clients on matters relating to U.S. laws imposing a trade embargo against Cuba.
- Land Use & Zoning
- Representing Western States Petroleum Association and other trade associations in developing zoning ordinance and comprehensive environmental impact report for streamlined oil and gas permitting in Kern County (source of 80 percent of California’s production).
- Represented SKS Investments, and currently Jay Paul Company, regarding land use entitlement for and subsequent development of a 700-foot-tall, 400,000-square-foot office and luxury condominium in San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal District.
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Developed ethics code and procedures for national medical specialty society and then obtained FTC advisory opinion approval; the code and process are now the standard for other nonprofits.
- Assisted international trade association that operates a “top ten” exposition in the United States in acquiring a major industry exposition in Europe and starting up another in Asia.
- Advised a statewide veterans’ organization in aiding formerly homeless veterans who qualified for subsidized housing by providing free furniture and housewares, benefitting thousands of recipients.
- Pharma, Life Sciences and Health Care
- In an example of “venture philanthropy” that garnered national attention, brokered the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s $3.3 billion sale of drug royalties to raise funding for further therapeutic development.
- Advising health systems, hospitals and health care providers regarding federal health care program fraud-and-abuse legal compliance, disclosures and self-reporting of potential misconduct to DOJ, OIG and CMS.
- Assisting health systems in HRSA 340B drug discount program compliance reviews, HRSA audits, developing correction plans and implementing manufacturer underpayment settlements.
- Political Law
- Assisted numerous clients, including national banks, large energy companies, software companies, and money management firms, in evaluating, designing, implementing and utilizing successful centralized political law compliance programs.
- Effectively represented candidates and initiative campaigns throughout the election process and have advised officeholders following their election to public office.
- Public Policy
- Defending multinational clients in all stages of congressional investigations, including responses to inquiries, requests for document production and witness preparation for public hearings.
- Serving as Washington, DC, counsel to the Ministry of Financial Services, Commerce and Environment for a major international financial center.
- Advising private sector clients, including the leading trade association for the largest global auto manufacturers, on compliance with cybersecurity law, regulations, procurement policies and industry standards.
- State & Local Government Strategies
- Devised and implemented multistate government relations campaign to exempt yoga teacher training programs from vocational training regulation/licensing requirements on behalf of Yoga Alliance, the largest membership association for the yoga industry.
- Coordinated multistate government affairs activities for multiple financial services companies seeking to challenge the applicability of state money transmitter licensing requirements to certain services not contemplated by money transmitter laws.
- Advised clients with respect to persuading regulators in multiple states to reach favorable settlements for clients alleged to have unintentionally violated state regulations.