International Trade and National Security

We guide companies in managing a wide array of international trade issues with compliance and risk mitigation strategies for export controls, economic/trade sanctions, foreign investment national security reviews, anti-money laundering controls, import/customs regulations, anti-boycott rules, global anti-corruption laws, and trade policy initiatives. 

As international trade lawyers, we play a crucial role in helping clients operate under the guidelines of multiple regulatory regimes and pursue new market opportunities created by export control reforms, free trade agreements, supply chain strategies, and trade remedy actions. We also advise and defend clients in internal and government investigations of trade-related matters, as well as both voluntary and directed disclosures to governments. 

Our team's knowledge of international trade law is relevant to a broad range of goods and services sectors. We help clients in industries, from Aerospace to Real Estate, develop risk mitigation and compliance strategies and make crucial business decisions. 

Our lawyers can help you customize a cross-border trade strategy based on your business goals and risks, which includes the following:

• Business operations
• Funds transfers
• Wind-down activities
• Export guidelines for shipments of lethal and non-lethal goods
• Compliance with Blocked Asset Reporting Mechanisms
• Establishment of foreign manufacturing operations
• Synchronization of U.S. export control and sanctions requirements with the E.U., the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, and other countries 

Our risk mitigation and compliance efforts include helping clients across a broad range of goods and services sectors develop courses of action to make business decisions regarding funds transfers and business operations, implement wind-down activities, support exports of both lethal and non-lethal shipments, comply with various blocked asset reporting mechanisms, establish foreign manufacturing operations, and synchronize U.S. export control and sanctions requirements with various measures being implemented by the E.U., the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, and other countries. In short, we customize cross-border trade strategies for clients based on their specific business goals and risks. 

Custom Legal Support for Global Companies

• Export controls (ITAR/EAR/DOE/NRC and UK Dual-Use Controls) 
• Economic/trade sanctions programs (OFAC and OFSI), including evolving sanctions targeting Russia/Belarus, Iran, Syria, and North Korea 
• Foreign investment/national security reviews and investigations (CFIUS and NS&I Act) and related mitigation measures/agreements 
• Global anti-corruption laws (FCPA and UKBA) compliance structure and investigations
• Import/customs controls and CBP seizures/forfeiture actions
• Global supply chain strategies and audits
• Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance
• Anti-boycott restrictions
• National industrial security (NISPOM) standards
• Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requirements 
• Trade remedy disputes (AD/CVD and §232/§301 Tariffs)
• Arms industry/munitions trade compliance (ATF)
• Aerospace and autonomous systems development strategies
• Defense and global security assistance project strategies 
• Trade agreements/preferences and market access opportunities

Global Reach

Womble Bond Dickinson’s international trade experience covers North and South America (including Latin America and the Caribbean), Europe (particularly the UK and Western Europe), Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Our lawyers come from diverse global backgrounds and apply a wide variety of language skills and international practice and government experience to serving the business and legal needs of clients with global operations. Our clients range from multinational companies with worldwide requirements to middle market companies venturing abroad for the first time to international businesses looking to establish U.S. operations.

Industry Experience and Seamless Multidisciplinary Support

Our International Trade and National Security Team has represented clients across sectors including manufacturing, defense and aerospace, technology and services, life sciences, banking and financial services, cybersecurity, universities and non-profits, real estate, and construction. When a multi-practice effort is needed, we collaborate seamlessly with our teammates in related practice areas, such as Corporate and M&A (typically including stock, asset and merger acquisitions and post-close contract compliance and integration efforts), White Collar Defense and Investigations, Intellectual Property, Environmental, Labor and Employment, Privacy and Data Protection, and Cybersecurity.

WBD Global Trade Advisors

Trade compliance presents a significant and costly operational challenge for many companies. To address this need, our ITNS lawyers work seamlessly with global trade advisors to provide comprehensive risk mitigation compliance services. Our advisors have decades of legal and business experience. The group includes senior trade professionals who previously served as ITAR Empowered Officials and trade compliance managers, corporate trade consultants, and a distinguished law professor specializing in global arms control.