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Office
of The Chief Counsel
for Industry and Security
Welcome
The Chief Counsel for Industry and Security and the attorneys and support
staff who work with him provide legal services to the Commerce Department's
Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS")(formerly the Bureau
of Export Administration). BIS plays a central role in advancing the nation's
security, foreign policy, and defense industrial base interests. BIS activities
include:
- Administering and enforcing U.S. export controls on
dual-use items (items with both a civilian and a military or proliferation-related
use)
- Enforcing laws prohibiting U.S. persons from participation
in foreign boycotts
- Cooperating with other countries on export control
and strategic trade issues
- Assisting U.S. industry to comply with international
arms control agreements
- Monitoring the health of the U.S. defense industrial
base
- Promoting federal initiatives and public-private partnerships
across industry sectors to protect the nation's critical infrastructures
Office Description
Attorneys in the Office of Chief Counsel for Industry and Security ("OCC-IS")
practice over a broad range of disciplines and responsibilities. OCC-IS
activities include:
Enforcement (litigation)
- Representing BIS in administrative enforcement cases
before Administrative Law Judges
- Assisting Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the prosecution
of criminal export control cases
- Advising BIS's criminal investigators on issues such
as the use of police powers, including search and seizure, firearms,
arrest, and surveillance methods
- Working with the Department of Justice in defending
court challenges relating to BIS programs.
Licensing and Policy
- Counseling BIS on legal and policy issues relating
to export licensing and antiboycott compliance issues
- Reviewing and interpreting regulations maintained by
BIS, including the Export Administration Regulations
- Drafting and reviewing proposed legislation relating
to BIS's work
- Advising and participating in BIS's international cooperation
programs
- Providing legal support to BIS's defense industrial
base programs
- Assisting in assessments of the national security implications
of foreign takeovers of U.S. companies and the effect of imports on
the national security.
The
Chief Counsel and the Deputy Chief Counsel lead a team of approximately
20 lawyers and support staff to provide BIS legal services.
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