Overview

Jamie has extensive experience representing U.S. and foreign companies on a wide range of international trade compliance requirements related to customs and cross-border trade. Her areas of practice include export controls, economic and trade sanctions, import and customs law, antiboycott restrictions, and requirements related to the USMCA and other free trade agreements and duty preference programs. She regularly represents companies in administrative proceedings before U.S. government agencies, including the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau.


She represents clients concerning a variety of trade controls compliance issues, including conducting investigations, defending enforcement actions, filing disclosures, responding to Penalty Notices and Claims for Liquidated Damages, applying for export licenses, filing classification, Commodity Jurisdiction and General Correspondence requests, responding to Seizure Notices, filing Protests, and conducting internal trade compliance audits.


Based in Houston, Texas, Jamie has represented multinational corporations in complex export controls and sanctions compliance matters. She has handled customs matters involving numerous customs ports across the United States. She has extensive experience handling North American cross-border trade issues, including Origin Verifications, audits by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, prior disclosures, investigations covering related party valuation, and country of origin issues.

In 2020, Jamie embarked on an extensive study related to modern slavery and forced labor laws, supply chain due diligence, and how these laws impact multinational enterprises and their supply chains. She is currently writing a book on the topic with the aim of providing practical guidance for organizations on how to incorporate these new laws and requirements into their existing international compliance programs.

Experience

  • Led team of outside counsel in connection with complex export control and sanctions internal investigation for multinational oil and gas company involving multiple U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries resulting in settlements with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).   
  • Obtained comprehensive export licenses from BIS for multiple companies enabling exports of numerous controlled goods to numerous countries and customers, allowing business operational flexibility under a single license.
  • Conducted comprehensive U.S. import compliance review, including related party valuation issues, for a large U.S.-based electronics manufacturer.
  • Drafted and assisted with implementation of Export Compliance Programs, Sanctions Compliance Programs, and Import Compliance Programs for companies in the healthcare, petrochemical, oil and gas (offshore and onshore), aerospace, aviation (aircraft parts manufacturing and aircraft leasing companies), maritime, hydrographic survey, aluminum, and academic industries. Compliance programs and implementation assistance have included internal roll-out or implementation training, refresher training, drafting of policies and procedures, conducting internal audits, teaching company employees how to conduct internal trade compliance audits, and preparation of eLearning content.
  • Prepared tariff classification rulings to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the tariff classification of products imported into the U.S.
  • Conducted country of origin analyses of products imported into the U.S. by U.S. importer.
  • Prepared and filed Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) ruling requests with the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) on behalf of clients in multiple industries including maritime, aerospace, medical, and academic.
  • Designed and drafted comprehensive International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) licensing procedures and work instructions covering all types of DDTC licenses for export and import, Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), Manufacturing Licensing Agreements (MLAs), and Warehouse and Distribution Agreements (WDAs), for large U.S. defense contractor. Work instructions included detailed processes for use of ITAR compliance software used for licenses, tracking shipments under licenses, and more.
  • Led team of outside counsel in conducting comprehensive internal investigation for U.S.-based multinational related to EAR and ITAR compliance, including defense services, resulting in settlements with DDTC and with BIS.

News & Publications

Publications

  • Presenter, What to Expect for U.S. Trade Relations Under the Biden Administration, Houston District Export Council Webinar
    February 10, 2021
  • July 30, 2020
  • June 16, 2020
  • Presenter, Voluntary Self-Disclosures to BIS, 45th Annual Conference, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Rancho Mirage, California
    May 2018
  • Moderator, Export Resources forum, Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs, Houston, Texas
    November 2017
  • Co-Author, “Avoiding The Risk of Forced Labor Abuses Through Supply Chain Due Diligence,” The Daily Bugle
    October 26, 2017
  • Presenter, Summary of Key U.S. Laws Regulating Cross-Border Trade and Investment: Overview of U.S. Export Controls, Sanctions, and Import Laws & Regulations, International Law Section, State Bar of Texas
    October 2017
  • Presenter, U.S. Customs Regulatory Update
    September 2017
  • Presenter, Export & Sanctions Compliance Manuals and Internal Controls
    September 2017
  • Presenter, Update on U.S. Sanctions: Russia, Iran, Cuba, and More, 3rd Annual Conference, Texas Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders, Galveston, TX
    August 2017
  • Presenter, China Energy Trade Update, International Law Section, Houston Bar Association, Houston, Texas
    May 2017
  • Co-Author, “NAFTA — Uncertainty and Anticipation,” News & Events from Joiner Law Firm
    April 20, 2017
  • Presenter, U.S. Export Controls, Sanctions and Enforcement: An Update & Outlook Under a New Administration, Houston District Export Council, Houston, Texas
    April 2017
  • Presenter, U.S. Trade Controls Update - Export Controls, Sanctions, and Beyond, Houston West Chamber of Commerce, Houston, Texas
    March 2017
  • Co-Author, 2013 and 2014 Year in Review section on Customs Law, Section of International Law, American Bar Association
    January 2017
  • Co-Author, “The Shared Responsibility of Export Compliance: When Exporters and Freight Forwarders Partner for Compliance, Both Stand to Benefit,” WorldECR
    January 2017
  • Contributing Author, U.S. Customs: A Practitioner’s Guide to Principles, Processes, and Procedures, 291-327 (Second ed.)
    2016
  • Presenter, 2016 Compliance Year in Review: U.S. Sanctions, Export Controls, and Enforcement, Houston Designated Area Trade Association, International Compliance Professionals Association, Houston, Texas
    November 2016
  • Co-Author, “BIS, State Harmonize Destination Control Statement,” WorldECR
    October 2016
  • Webinar Presenter, U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance for Transportation Intermediaries, Roanoke Trade Risk Management
    September 2016
  • Speaker, Export Licensing Strategies Focus, Advanced Topics in Customs Compliance Conference
    February 2016
  • Presenter, Classifying Items on the USML, Advanced Topics in Customs Compliance Conference
    February 2016
  • Panel Moderator, Customs Law Committee regarding the U.S. Customs Centers of Excellence and Expertise, American Bar Association
    April 2015
  • Presenter, Trade Sanctions Update, Houston Industry Trade Compliance Forum, Houston, Texas
    March 2015
  • Guest, “Advancing Global Markets TV-Radio Show 2015 Networking Launch Reception”
    February 2015
  • Co-moderator, “Understanding and Complying with BIS’ Russian-Related Sanctions” program, Section of International Law, American Bar Association
    November 2014
  • Lecturer, Russia Oil & Gas Industry Sector Sanctions, Export University Series
    October 2014
  • Co-Author, “Here Comes the Office of Export Enforcement! Are You Ready?” Pharmaceutical Compliance Monitor
    March 17, 2014
  • March 2013
  • Author, “Complying with U.S. Export Controls: Practical Considerations and Guidelines for Businesses,” Currents: Journal of International Economic Law, South Texas College of Law
    September 2009

Honors & Recognition

  • Women Small Business Champion, U.S. Small Business Administration (2015)
  • Recipient of the Client Choice Awards for Trade and Customs Counsel in Texas (2013-2014)

Community & Professional

  • Licensed as a U.S. Customs Broker (2005-present)
  • Export Legal Assistance Network (Houston Area Coordinator)
  • Houston Committee on Foreign Relations (Member)

Education

Louisiana State University Law Center, J.D., 2000

Westminster College, B.A., 1996

Bar admissions

  • Texas

Court admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of International Trade
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
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