T. Augustine Lo

Economic Sanctions, Export Controls, and National Security Law

• Advise U.S.-based and international clients on compliance with U.S. sanctions programs and export controls to mitigate operational risks and provide training to key personnel.
• Apply for licenses to authorize transactions, and prepare voluntary self-disclosures to address violations.
• Advise clients on responses to federal government subpoenas.
• Conduct internal investigations to advise clients on compliance obligations.
• Conduct due diligence in support of mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, and other capital markets transactions, and draft disclosures and contractual provisions.
• Counsel clients on potential risk of CFIUS review of foreign investments in U.S. enterprises and properties.

Customs and International Trade

• Represent U.S. importers in customs enforcement matters, including customs raids, detention and seizure of merchandise relating to alleged intellectual property rights violations and firearms import violations, and penalty notices relating to alleged duty evasion.
• Prepare successful requests for exclusion of products from the Section 301 tariffs.
• Advise importers on eligibility for tariff preferences under free trade agreements.
• Help clients with navigating changes to U.S. import tariffs under Section 201 (solar products), Section 232 (steel and aluminum articles), and Section 301 (goods originating from China and European Union).
• Represent clients in customs and trade litigation in U.S. Court of International Trade and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
• Represent clients in international trade proceedings before U.S. Department of Commerce, including successful application for separate rate for Chinese exporter in antidumping administrative review.

Commercial Litigation

• Defended major Chinese financial institution in federal district litigation under the Anti-Terrorism Act, involving voluminous Chinese-language material, cross-border discovery disputes, and intensive motions practice.
• Represented issuer in securities enforcement action brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and related criminal proceedings brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle.
• Represented U.S. banking institution in complex federal court litigation involving Chinese-language material, international discovery challenges, and deposition of Chinese-language witnesses.
• Represented major auctioneer of heavy equipment in debt collection actions.
• Represented entrepreneur in real estate partition action.
• Conducted internal investigation of Chinese company listed on a U.S. stock exchange.