John Gilliland is a consultant to Akin Gump. He advises clients on all matters affecting international trade, health care and tax policy, including trade agreements, legislation and international disputes.
Prior to his work in private practice, Mr. Gilliland served as international trade counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. He was responsible for oversight of U.S. international trade policy, with a particular focus on trade negotiations including the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha Development Agenda, U.S. agriculture trade and several major trade disputes. He also organized and staffed trade missions to China, Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Cuba.
Mr. Gilliland was also legislative assistant to former U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., advising her on all agriculture and trade matters relevant to her membership on the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Finance Committee.
Mr. Gilliland received his J.D. from the University of Alabama and his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Briefs he co-wrote in law school won top prize at the Jessup International Law Moot Court world championships. He also attended the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and the Moscow (Russia) Institute for International Relations.