Akin Expands International Trade Practice With Addition of Senior Career Export Control Officials From the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin announced today that Matthew Borman, the former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for Strategic Trade and Technology Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and Eileen Albanese, former Director of the Office of National Security Controls (ONSC) at the BIS have joined the firm as a senior counsel and senior regulatory advisor, respectively. Their additions significantly enhance Akin’s best-in-class export controls, tariff, sanctions and other international trade compliance and policy capabilities.

Borman’s role as the PDAS and, previously, Deputy Assistant Security, since 2001, included leading BIS’s Export Administration, which includes the bureau’s offices responsible for national security policy, foreign policy, technology evaluation, strategic industries and economic security. In addition to all export control policy issues, these offices handle the bureau’s international engagements, Section 232 import investigations, support for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and defense industrial base responsibilities. Borman was also responsible for the office’s processes regarding the Entity List, interagency dispute resolution and policy-development efforts, and Section 232 exclusion requests. Indeed, Borman has driven virtually every significant export control policy program over the past 20 years. Of particular significance, Borman worked quickly to assemble a coalition of 38 countries to implement coordinated controls against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. Prior to these roles, Borman had been with BIS’s chief counsel’s office since 1992.

Albanese’s role as the ONSC Director since 2008 included leading the office’s administration of BIS’s national security controls over dual-use and military items. The office processes license applications, develops export control policies and regulations, prepares commodity classification determinations, advisory opinions and, with the State Department, commodity jurisdiction determinations. Albanese and her office were on the front line of BIS’s efforts to identify and control emerging and foundational technologies, including those related to artificial intelligence applications, advanced semiconductors, semiconductor production equipment, quantum-related items and supercomputers. ONSC has also long been responsible for administering controls over sensors, night vision equipment, aviation-related items, satellites, spacecraft, munitions items and encryption items. Albanese previously served as the Director of BIS’s Office of Exporter Services since 1995.

“With continued growing demand in this complex international trade environment, Eileen and Matt add an extremely valuable depth of experience to an already-impressive roster of high-ranking former trade officials at Akin,” said Jonathan Poling, head of the firm’s international trade practice. “As two of the most influential export control officials over the past two decades, their first-hand involvement with export control regulations, multilateral coordination, Section 232 tariff issues, and emerging technology policies will enable them to provide clients with targeted, strategic, and practical compliance and policy counsel. We’re delighted to welcome them to the firm.”

Albanese and Borman join many other former senior government national security officials now at Akin, including Kevin Wolf, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration; Opher Shweiki, former BIS Chief Counsel; Jason Prince, former Office of Foreign Assets Control Chief Counsel; Ryan Fayhee, former Department of Justice (DOJ) senior prosecutor and national security official; Thomas Krueger, former NSC Director Strategic Trade and Nonproliferation and State Department Senior Foreign Affairs Officer; Jon Poling, former prosecutor for the DOJ’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section; and George Pence, former U.S. Attorney in the Terrorism and Export Crimes section.

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 United States Trade Representative, 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 and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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