Osofsky, Hilary

Michael Esch is a partner in the firm's Regulatory and Government Affairs Department, and a member of the International Trade, Investment and Market Access Practice Group. He joined the firm in 1997.

Practice

Mr. Esch's practice focuses on representing clients in import relief proceedings and providing advice to importers and exporters regarding customs law and other regulations affecting international trade.

Mr. Esch has actively participated in more than 25 administrative trade proceedings, including antidumping and countervailing duty investigations before the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, Section 337 unfair import investigations before the US International Trade Commission, and Section 301 export barrier proceedings before the Office of the US Trade Representative. In these proceedings Mr. Esch has represented producers in a broad range of industry sectors, extending from agriculture to steel, and from consumer electronics to semiconductors.

In addition, Mr. Esch has provided advice and representation on customs law matters, including classification, valuation, country of origin marking, export controls, special import duty programs, and foreign trade zone operations. Mr. Esch has also represented clients in judicial appeals from US agency proceedings, and in connection with disputes before the World Trade Organization. In 1996, Mr. Esch was appointed by the Office of the US Trade Representative to serve on the roster of panelists that adjudicate disputes under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Esch was a partner with the Washington, DC firm of Patton Boggs LLP, practicing international trade law and litigation. Following law school, he clerked for former Chief Judge Theodore R. Newman, Jr., of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.