Served as associate general counsel and acting chief counsel on China enforcement at the USTR.
Served as legal advisor to the U.S. Mission to the WTO.
Advises companies and sovereign entities on cross-border trade and investment policy and international dispute resolution.
Partner-in-charge of the firm’s Geneva office.
Practice
Stephen Kho handles matters related to trade policy and international dispute resolution. He represents companies and governments on matters ranging from market access and investment to public international law.
Stephen spent nine years at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in the Executive Office of the President. As the principal attorney on China matters, he was responsible for developing dispute and advocacy positions related to China’s obligations in the World Trade Organization (WTO). He formulated policy and legal strategy, consulted Congress and industry, and coordinated interagency efforts on these matters.
Stephen’s substantive experience covers a range of trade issues, including:
Services and financial services
Trade in goods
Intellectual property rights
Investment
Electronic commerce
Subsidies
Trade remedies
Government procurement
Non-tariff trade barriers.
Stephen was also the lead USTR attorney on intellectual property and government procurement matters. In that capacity, he led the U.S. delegation in related WTO and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) dispute resolution proceedings and participated in numerous free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.
As legal advisor at the U.S. Mission to the WTO in Geneva, he managed the WTO dispute settlement portfolio for the U.S. government.
Representative Work
Advising U.S. companies on foreign market access barrier issues, such as tariff misclassifications, technical standards, pricing and reimbursement restrictions and licensing requirements.
Assisting U.S. companies in international investor-state arbitration and other investment rights in relation to FTAs and bilateral investment treaties.
Representing and advising companies and sovereign entities with regard to:
FTA negotiations
WTO dispute settlement proceedings
Investment treaty negotiations
International border disputes and national security issues
Generalized System of Preference (GSP) proceedings, Section 301 and Notorious Market List proceedings.
Creating and implementing strategies to enforce the intellectual property rights of U.S. companies in foreign jurisdictions.
Advocating before U.S. Congress, the U.S. executive branch and foreign governments with respect to draft legislation and regulation in the areas of climate change, intellectual property rights, agriculture, cybersecurity and financial services.
Speeches
Speaker, “Global Governance at a Crossroads: Finding Solutions to Challenges Facing the Multilateral Trade System,” Webinar, British Institute of International and Comparative Law, June 29, 2022.
Speaker, “AAPI Representation and Justice” Webinar, Georgetown Law APALSA Trailblazers, April 15, 2021.
Presenter, Joint Climate & Trade Briefing, National Association of Manufacturers, June 12, 2020.
Panelist, “Predicting the Unpredictable: The Future of U.S. Trading Relations with Asia and What it Means for You,” Akin Gump CLE Program, May 30, 2019.
Speaker, NAPABA Chicago Convention, November 9, 2018.
Panelist, ICDR Young & International and the Georgetown International Arbitration Association, November 6, 2018.
Speaker, “Trade Disputes: What You Need to Know,” 2018 International Trade Update at Georgetown Law School, Washington, D.C., March 9, 2018.
Speaker, “Adapting and Implementing International Trade Strategies in a Time of Uncertainty,” IBA’s Investing in Asia Conference, New York, December 7, 2017.
Panelist, “The Impact of Economic Nationalism on International Trade, Investment and M&A,” Geneva, November 9, 2017.
Panelist, “The Impact of Economic Nationalism on International Trade, Investment and M&A,” London, November 7, 2017.
Speaker, “Trade and Trade Agreements, Europe, UK and U.S.,” The Global Series—Europe 2017, London, September 26, 2017.
Speaker, “Next Steps on NAFTA—The Process & Politics of Renegotiation,” United States Fashion Industry Association Webinar, June 6, 2017.
“Global Trade Academy: Legal Foundations and New Directions, the WTO and Beyond,” Institute of Economic Law, November 17, 2016.
Recognition
Best Lawyers Switzerland, International Arbitration and Trade Law, 2022.
The Legal 500 EMEA, WTO, Switzerland, 2020 to 2021.
Chambers Asia-Pacific, International Trade/WTO in China, 2009 to 2018, and Asia Pacific Region, 2009 to 2022.
Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Asia Pacific Region and China, 2009 to 2022
Chambers Global, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, USA, 2018 to 2022.
Chambers USA, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, 2017 to 2021.
Who’s Who Legal, Trade and Customs, 2013 to 2018.
Languages
Mandarin
Taiwanese
English
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