Hal S. Shapiro is the chair of the firm’s regulatory practice steering committee and the past leader of the international trade practice.

Practice & Background

Mr. Shapiro advises multinational corporations, U.S. trade associations and foreign governments on international business and policy issues; legislation, regulations and interagency policy formation; international trade agreements; litigation of disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international dispute-resolution bodies; import and export matters; customs matters; and federal civil litigation.

Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Shapiro served as senior advisor for International Economic Affairs and senior counselor to the director of the National Economic Council at the White House, where he oversaw the development of administration, international trade and economic policy positions with respect to international agreements, international trade disputes, pending legislation, executive orders, summit meetings between the president and foreign heads of state, and meetings of international economic bodies. He was the National Economic Council’s representative on the Trade Policy Staff Committee and the Section 301 Committee, the interagency bodies responsible for U.S. trade policies, disputes and sanctions. He also specialized in U.S.-EU relations and in trade disputes. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Shapiro served as associate general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where he represented the United States in WTO dispute-settlement proceedings; oversaw U.S. litigation involving the trade representative; and was an advisor to the trade representative, the deputy trade representative and other senior administration officials in the formulation and implementation of U.S. trade policy. From 1993 to 1996, he was a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, where he handled trials and appeals involving international trade, government contracts and administrative law issues.

Mr. Shapiro previously served as assistant professor and deputy director of the Center for International and Comparative Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and as an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at the American University Washington College of Law.

Public Service

  • Associate General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
  • Senior Advisor for International Economic Affairs and Senior Counselor to the Director, National Economic Council
  • Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice.

Awards & Accolades

  • Listed in Who’s Who Legal for Trade & Customs (2013-2014)
  • Shapiro has been cited by Chambers Global and Chambers USA as a leading international trade policy advisor (2016-2017).
  • Shapiro has been listed by The Hill newspaper as one of the top 10 international trade lobbyists in Washington, D.C
  • Recommended by Legal 500 US in Dispute Resolution – International Trade (2016).

Speaking Engagements

  • International Trade Policy Update: A Look Past the Recent Elections to 2015, and Career Perspectives from the Field, International Trade & Investment Law Society meeting, Nov. 20, 2014
  • Private Sector Perspectives, Global Business Dialogue Event on TPA, Time for Something New: A Review of Trade Promotion Authority and Consideration of the Question, What Next?, Dec. 18, 2012