Business and Human Rights

Human Rights Due Diligence

• Analyzing BHR risks related to workers and community members in conflict-affected countries and other challenging contexts (e.g., in the Middle East, North Africa, and East Asia) and providing legal advice on risk mitigation steps
• Developing responses to sensitive inquiries from investors, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders about potential company involvement in adverse human rights impacts in challenging contexts
• Advising on cross-jurisdictional strategies to comply with EU corporate sustainability regulations and managing related external auditor inquiries in collaboration with EU counsel 
• Assessing BHR obligations and recommending practical mitigation steps in response to identification of severe human rights risks – e.g., in a Latin American mining asset – and developing responsible exit strategies
• Briefing senior management and directors on industry- and company-specific human rights risks, obligations, safeguards, and related oversight matters
• Advising on human rights due diligence in major transactions such as long-term supply agreements for critical minerals, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), investments, and formation of joint ventures (JVs)
• Designing global human rights risk and impact assessment processes and assisting with executing integrated or standalone assessments across international sites
• Providing ongoing strategic support to legal and compliance leaders on developing and executing global human rights due diligence processes and grievance mechanisms rooted in the UNGPs

Investigations

• Developing robust allegations management and investigations processes that align with UNGP effectiveness criteria for grievance mechanisms
• Training internal investigations teams on special considerations for human rights investigations 
• Investigating concerns of forced labor raised through compliance hotlines or other channels
• Investigating allegations of discrimination and harassment involving senior management
• Providing strategic advice to navigate emerging U.S. enforcement and governmental investigation risks related to discrimination and other human rights issues – e.g., enforcement against "illegal" diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the private sector pursuant to executive orders
• Working with legal and compliance teams to identify, analyze, and structure investigations information to support compliance with public disclosure laws, and developing appropriate explanatory language for such disclosures
• Establishing global remediation frameworks for identified adverse human rights impacts to ensure appropriate focus on rights-holder perspectives in addition to managing company risks

Supply Chain Integrity

• Offering targeted advice on overcoming practical challenges in supply chain due diligence – e.g., serving as a trusted sounding board for process improvements and selection of tools and service providers for supply chain due diligence
• Briefing internal stakeholders on emerging regulatory and enforcement issues
• Advising on compliance with U.S. regulatory frameworks related to responsible sourcing and anti-forced labor laws, including Withhold Release Orders (WROs) and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
• Assisting with the development and implementation of risk assessment methodologies and anti-forced labor compliance policies and procedures
• Petitioning for the release of merchandise detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pursuant to WROs and the UFLPA, which our team has done successfully in the solar, apparel, automotive, aluminum, electronics, and agriculture industries
• Gathering and analyzing information for jurisdiction-specific disclosures relating to forced labor – e.g., under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, Australian Modern Slavery Act, U.K. Modern Slavery Act, and Canada Modern Slavery Act – and drafting appropriate explanatory language to support the accuracy and credibility of such disclosures, in collaboration with local counsel 
• Advising on cross-jurisdictional strategies to comply with supply chain-related components of EU corporate sustainability regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), in collaboration with EU counsel

• General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Counselor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Trial Chief, Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia
• Attorney-Advisor, Office of International Trade - Regulations & Rulings, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Staff Attorney, Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia

Chambers USA

• Corporate Crime & Investigations: The Elite (Nationwide), 2021 - 2025
• Corporate Crime & Investigations (Nationwide), 2015 - 2020
• FCPA (Nationwide), 2014 - 2025
• International Trade: Customs (Nationwide), 2024 - 2025
• International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions (Nationwide), 2022 - 2025
• International Trade (Nationwide), 2005 - 2015 

Chambers Global

• Brazil Corporate Crime & Investigations (International Firms), 2023 - 2025
• Corporate Crime & Investigations (Latin America-International Counsel), 2015 - 2025
• Corporate Crime & Investigations (USA), 2016 - 2025
• Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (Global: Multi-Jurisdictional), 2017 - 2025
• FCPA (USA), 2015 - 2025
• Investigations & Enforcement (International & Cross-Border) (USA), 2020 - 2025
• International Trade (United States), 2005 - 2015

Chambers Latin America

• Corporate Crime & Investigations (International Counsel), 2015 - 2025

Legal 500

• Dispute Resolution: International Trade (U.S.), 2011, 2013 - 2022 

Legal 500 Latin America

• International Firms: Compliance and Investigations, 2021 - 2025

Latinvex

• Top 10 Latin American FCPA & Fraud Firm, 2015 - 2024

Latin Lawyer

• Anti-Corruption Survey, Top Law Firm, 2013 

Best Lawyers^® "Best Law Firms"

• International Trade and Finance Law (District of Columbia), 2011 - 2025
• International Trade and Finance Law (National), 2011 - 2025

Main Justice

• Best FCPA Lawyers Client Service Award, Distinguished Service Award: Compliance Champions, 2013