WASHINGTON (January 3, 2023) – Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli is pleased to welcome seven highly skilled international trade attorneys to its Washington, D.C., office. Their addition further expands Polsinelli’s substantial intellectual property (IP) capabilities by officially launching its International Trade Commission (ITC) Section 337 Litigation and Trade Remedies Practice. Several of the new attorneys greatly expand the firm’s international trade capabilities with extensive experience in export controls and customs and compliance. Joining Polsinelli from international trade law firm AMS Trade, the group includes Deanna Tanner Okun, a former commissioner and two-time chair of the U.S. International Trade Commission, who will head the ITC Section 337 Litigation and Trade Remedies Practice, along with Senior Partner Louis S. Mastriani, and Shareholders Daniel F. Smith, Lauren E. Peterson and Lydia C. Pardini.

“This is an exceptionally talented group of attorneys, well known for their outstanding client service and deep knowledge of the complex trade rules and regulations that can impact clients,” said Chase Simmons, Chairman & CEO of Polsinelli. “Polsinelli has been fortunate to have one of the premier IP practices in the country and deepening this practice and expanding our team of attorneys with extensive international trade experience will greatly benefit our clients across the entire firm.”

“We are ecstatic to add this group of highly skilled lawyers whose reputations extend well beyond Washington,” said Patrick C. Woolley, Chair of the Intellectual Property Department at Polsinelli. “We feel this is a critical addition to the services offered to our clients.”

In addition to the attorneys above, Sean M. Wesp and Joonho Hwang will be joining the firm as associates along with International Trade Advisor Alissa M. Chase and other staff.

“We look forward to what the expanded capabilities can offer our clients,” said Deanna Tanner Okun. “Polsinelli’s deep roster of IP talent and other legal specialties creates many synergies and opportunities for collaboration that will allow us to best serve our domestic and international clients.”

Polsinelli’s Intellectual Property Department has seen rapid growth over the last year, having previously added seven attorneys to its Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Patent Prosecution Practice this summer. Polsinelli received Law Firm of the Year in Patent Law on U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 “Best Law Firms” list along with the Intellectual Property Department’s continued tier one national ranks in Patent Law, Trademark Law, and Litigation – Intellectual Property. The IP Litigation practice was also recognized as a Powerhouse by BTI Consulting Group, a designation reserved for the top 1% of firms. As one of the largest IP practices in the nation, Polsinelli has a deep bench of attorneys, patent agents, scientists and other professionals who handle some of the most complex issues facing technology and high-tech companies, bioscience and life sciences companies, animal science, medical device, pharmaceutical, chemical, software and business methods.

Polsinelli’s trade law attorneys navigate the complex intersection of law and policy that arises in international trade. The firm has represented clients during audits and investigations by federal government agencies that include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Commerce Department, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the ITC, and the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). This highly qualified team of attorneys adds years of experience to Polsinelli’s robust and nationally recognized Business Department, expands Polsinelli’s international trade expertise and formalizes the firm’s trade remedy capabilities.

Shareholder Deanna Tanner Okun is an international trade lawyer whose former experience as a U.S. ITC Commissioner and Chair informs her legal and strategic international trade policy advice. She supports companies where innovation confronts barriers, such as intellectual property theft, unfair trade practices, or regulatory hurdles. Her practice involves all aspects of unfair trade litigation and trade remedy advocacy. Her Section 337 work includes all stages of litigation at the ITC from pre-institution consultation to post-remedy enforcement with CBP. She is recognized by Chambers USA for Intellectual Property – International Trade (Section 337) and has been recognized in IP Stars’ Top 250 Women in IP for the past decade. Deanna represents clients in trade proceedings before federal agencies, including antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, Section 201 and Section 232, where she has a successful track record on behalf of clients from a range of industries.  She has been recognized as an Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Association of Women in International Trade.

Senior Partner Louis S. Mastriani counsels and assists clients in domestic and worldwide licensing and enforcement programs for intellectual property rights, with an emphasis on high technology patent portfolios. For more than forty years, he has been involved in unfair competition investigations before the ITC under Section 337 as well as intellectual property litigation in federal district courts. He also handles antidumping and countervailing duty investigations at the ITC and the U.S. Department of Commerce and cases before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He was ranked a Senior Statesperson in International Trade by Chambers USA.

Shareholder Daniel F. Smith is an international trade and intellectual property attorney focusing his practice on Section 337 unfair competition investigations before the ITC and intellectual property litigation in U.S. district courts and appeals before the Federal Circuit. He counsels a diverse range of clients on patent infringement, invalidity and other intellectual property issues involving patents, trademarks and trade dress, and copyrights.

Shareholder Lauren E. Peterson is an international trade and intellectual property attorney focusing her practice on Section 337 unfair competition investigations before the ITC. She represents clients in a diverse assortment of industries, including lithium-ion batteries, steel, pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, barbeque grills, consumer lighting, footwear, computers, flash memory devices, hospital beds, and office machines. She has handled claims involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, false designation of origin, and antitrust violations.

Shareholder Lydia C. Pardini advises manufacturers and importers regarding issues at the intersection of unfair trade and trade remedies, import regulatory compliance, and international trade policy. She helps companies from a diverse spectrum of industry sectors to evaluate supply chain risks, identify beneficial opportunities, create effective trade compliance programs, and resolve issues in a practical and efficient manner when they do arise. Drawing on her prior government experience, Lydia helps clients navigate complex U.S. trade investigations, including antidumping and countervailing duty investigations before the Department of Commerce and ITC.  Lydia is also a licensed Customs Broker and works collaboratively with clients to identify and resolve issues involving CBP, including regarding tariff classification, valuation, and country of origin.

About Polsinelli

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 23 offices nationwide. Recognized as one of the top firms for excellent client service and client relationships, Polsinelli is committed on meeting our clients’ expectations of what a law firm should be. Our attorneys provide value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight with a focus on health care, real estate, finance, intellectual property, litigation, technology, private equity, and corporate transactions. Polsinelli LLP in California, Polsinelli PC (Inc) in Florida.

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