DOC - Office of General Counsel - 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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Office Contact:
John Masterson

Chief Counsel
CCIS@bis.doc.gov
202-482-5301 Voice
202-482-0085 fax

Visit BIS's Web site:

BIS

Quick Links:

Export Administration Regulations

Legal Authority for the EAR (text)