Insights

Washington – June 24, 2024: Crowell & Moring has been recommended in eight practice areas in the 17th edition of the Legal 500 United States. In addition, partner Daniel Forman, co-chair of the firm’s Government Contracts Group, has been named to the Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for Government Contracts.

Washington – June 5, 2024: Latinvex has named Crowell & Moring as one of Latin America’s Top Law Firms of 2024. The firm is listed among the top 50 global firms ranked for their legal work in Latin America. The publication also named Crowell partner Ian A. Laird as one of Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers, and partners Nicole Janigian Simonian and Lisa Henneberry as two of Latin America’s Top 100 Female Lawyers in 2023.

Beginning on February 8, the members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the Biden-Harris Administration’s signature economic initiative in the Asia-Pacific, held the next framework negotiating round. This round advanced the arrangement’s supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy pillars and continued to build on the negotiating text that was tabled at the last negotiating round. Notably, it did not include negotiations on the trade pillar, of which India is not a member. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit, which will be held in San Francisco in late 2023 has been cited as a tentative target date by which the parties hope to conclude the negotiations.

Employers continue to face the impact of the current Ukraine/Russia conflict on employees and the employment relationship in Russia, Ukraine and the broader region. This article will touch upon briefly some key issues of concern for multinationals during this time.

Yesterday, President Biden issued a Fact Sheet entitled Biden Administration Efforts to Address Bottlenecks at Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Moving Goods from Ship to Shelf to help address the “delays and congestion” across the transportation supply chain. As has been widely reported in recent weeks and months, the global supply chain has been hard hit by large increases in e-commerce and delays and shutdowns implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. Yesterday’s release confirms public and private commitments to move goods more quickly and to secure the resiliency of American and global supply chains. To do so, the Biden Administration is focusing on the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which act as the ports of entry to the United States for 40% of containers received. The President, together with leadership from these ports, are undertaking a series of public and private commitments as noted below.

Celebrating its 93rd Anniversary, World Trade Week Southern California (WTW), an initiative of the L.A. Area Chamber, is the most extensive and unique program of its kind in the country. WTW dedicates itself to educating the business community on the positive aspects of international trade on the local and national economy through educational programs and events. World Trade Week is celebrated throughout the month of May with nearly 30 events that are jumpstarted by the annual WTW Kickoff Breakfast.

Please join us for a discussion to explore key issues in the business community as the war in Ukraine continues to reverberate through the global supply chain.

Supply chain disruptions have exacerbated strains and weaknesses in existing trade infrastructure, causing widespread ripple effects throughout the global economy.  From an international trade perspective, companies face real-time pressures to make business decisions that may have complex legal implications going forward.  Our International Trade Team will lead a discussion highlighting current risks companies are encountering, potential legal implications, and strategies to mitigate risks in real-time in this dynamic and changing landscape.

Erik is returning to Crowell after serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State. This episode discusses Erik's experience at Department of State and how that informs his practice at Crowell, and his thoughts on possible developments under the new Administration. Global Trade Talks is a podcast that shares brief perspectives on key global issues on international trade, current events, business, law, and public policy as they impact our lives.

Global Trade Talks is a podcast that shares brief perspectives on key global issues on international trade, current events, business, law, and public policy as they impact our lives. In this session, hosts and International Trade Practice Leaders Nicole Simonian and Dj Wolff talk with Crowell lawyers David Stepp and Simeon Yerokun about Uyghur Forced Labor law and its recent application to the auto industry.

Global Trade Talks is a podcast that shares brief perspectives on key global issues on international trade, current events, business, law, and public policy as they impact our lives. In this session, hosts and International Trade Practice Leaders Nicole Simonian and Dj Wolff talk with Crowell lawyers Jeremy Iloulian and Laurel Saito about the significant new sanctions and export control authorities included in the recently enacted National Security Supplemental fiscal package. While this legislation is best known for providing U.S. foreign aid commitments for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, it also contains critical trade related provisions that (i) expand the statute of limitations for U.S. sanctions violations; (ii) give the President new authorities to coordinate sanction efforts with the US and UK; (iii) expand sanctions and export controls on Iran (with some targeting Chinese financial institutions); and (iv) provide for new sanctions authorities targeting terror groups.