DLA Piper is pleased to announce the addition of Maria Alejandra “Jana” del-Cerro and Elyssa Kutner as partners in the National Security and Global Trade Practice. They will be based in the Washington, DC office.

Del-Cerro represents clients on all aspects of export compliance, including day-to-day compliance counseling, developing compliance programs, completing commodity jurisdiction and classification analysis, conducting employee training, performing transactional due diligence, and coordinating related regulatory submissions. She regularly represents clients before the Departments of State, Commerce, and Treasury on matters involving export controls and economic sanctions, including with respect to government inquiries, conducting internal reviews, and compliance investigations and voluntary disclosures. Ms. del-Cerro previously worked at the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and currently serves as a member of the U.S. Department of State Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG).

Kutner’s practice focuses on advising clients on all matters related to the importation of merchandise into the US, including classification, customs valuation, country of origin determinations and marking (including the use of the “Made in USA” mark), trade enforcement actions such as Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs, free trade agreement and duty preference program eligibility, and drawback. She also represents clients in administrative proceedings and enforcement actions before US Customs and Border Protection, and in litigation at the Court of International Trade. Her efforts have resulted in companies realizing significant duty savings, identifying risks and opportunities, and ensuring compliance with customs laws and regulations.

“As supply chain resiliency, duty mitigation strategies, and export controls move to the forefront of trade compliance and enforcement priorities, we are excited to connect Elyssa and Jana with our network of clients who will benefit from their outstanding reputation and experience across the full landscape of customs and export controls,” said Nicholas Klein, Co-Chair of the National Security and Global Trade Practice.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jana and Elyssa to our practice. As the export controls and customs landscapes grow increasingly complex and our clients face heightened enforcement scrutiny, their joining builds on our commitment to providing top-tier national security and trade representation of the firm’s clients before the government” said Christine Daya, Co-Chair of the National Security and Global Trade Practice.

“Elyssa and Jana‘s valuable knowledge across customs, tariffs, and export controls will be essential to expanding our National Security and Global Trade Practice amid the current trade environment and rising client demand,” William Minor, Managing Partner of the Washington, DC office.

Elyssa and Jana’s arrival follows the addition of several other new lawyers in the National Security and Global Trade Practice that bring a wide range of senior government and private sector experience, including partner Mike Walsh (former Commerce Department Chief of Staff and Acting General Counsel), partner Brian Janovitz (former USTR Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement Strategy and Competitiveness), and Nadia Asancheyev (former DOJ National Security Division).

This news story was originally published on the firm’s website.