Akin Expands International Trade Practice with Addition of Former BIS Chief Strategy Officer Steven Emme in Washington, D.C.

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin announced today that Steven Emme, immediate past chief strategy officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), has joined the firm as an international trade partner in Washington, D.C. The move further strengthens Akin’s best-in-class international trade team, enhancing the firm’s export controls and sanctions practice capabilities.

Emme served as the chief of staff and chief strategy officer of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s BIS, having led policy and strategic planning of the agency. In those roles, he served as a key architect of many of the most impactful BIS actions over the past few years, such as the development of new restrictions on emerging and critical technologies, including on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology; implementation of Russia sanctions, formulation of novel extraterritorial controls, and the development of plurilateral controls implemented with international partner countries. In a preceding role with the BIS, Emme also served as a senior advisor, where he worked on the development and implementation of the Export Control Reform Initiative involving defense trade controls.

Prior to his most recent service at the BIS, Emme was senior counsel at Akin, advising clients on compliance with the BIS’ Export Administration Regulations, the Department of State’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations and sanctions regulations administered by the Department of the Treasury. His work included focusing on evolving export controls related to China and restricted parties, as well as implications of U.S. extraterritorial controls on high-value transactions.

“We continue to see robust client demand in all aspects of international trade, including regulatory, policy, compliance and enforcement issues regarding export controls,” said Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi. “Steve brings a wealth of policy and regulatory knowledge from his time in government and his return to the firm bolsters our market-leading international trade practice at a critical time.”

“As geopolitical events, advancements in critical technologies and supply chain pressures accelerate U.S. national security and foreign policy concerns, we continue to see increased complexity, uncertainty and additional restrictions related to international trade. Steve’s experience working on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced integrated circuits, semiconductor production equipment, quantum computers, biotech and more are invaluable to clients,” said Jonathan Poling, head of Akin’s international trade practice. “We are delighted to welcome Steve back to Akin.”

“Akin has an incredible international trade group and has continued to add outstanding practitioners to the team over the last year, making this an unrivaled destination for international trade compliance,” said Emme on his return to the firm. “I look forward to returning to private practice alongside both new and former colleagues and to helping clients navigate the changing and complex export controls regulatory environment.”

With the addition of Emme to the firm, Akin has unparalleled depth of former BIS officials within its international trade practice, including Kevin Wolf, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration; Matthew Borman, former principal deputy assistant for Strategic Trade and Technology Security; Opher Shweiki, former chief counsel; Eileen Albanese, former director of Office of National Security and Technology Transfer Controls; Alexander Lopes, former director of Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance; and Gregory Dunlap, former Special Agent in Charge of Export Enforcement.

About Akin’s International Trade Practice

Akin’s renowned international trade practice guides clients through the strategic decisions, regulatory frameworks and disputes that shape how goods, services and technologies move around the world. The practice is among the largest, most distinguished and most geographically diverse in the world.

Akin’s team includes former high-ranking national security and foreign policy officials from the departments of Justice, Commerce, State, Treasury, Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the USTR, White House and Congress. With lawyers and advisors located in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the team brings a global perspective to clients’ matters.

The firm’s broader regulatory section has more than 130 professionals covering antitrust, communications, cybersecurity, financial services, environmental, government procurement, health care, international trade, privacy and transportation issues.

Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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