Stephen J Claeys has joined Wiley Rein LLP as a partner in the international trade practice. He brings with him 25 years of experience advising members of Congress, senior White House and US Department of Commerce officials, and clients on international trade law and policy, as well as supervising the enforcement of US trade remedies laws.
In his new role, he will provide legal and policy advice to Wiley Rein’s clients, with a focus on bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade agreements, trade remedies and safeguards, foreign market access barriers, e-commerce and digital trade, agriculture trade, and customs enforcement.
According to Alan Price, chair of Wiley Rein's international trade practice, "Steve has unparalleled experience in the substantial, complex issues impacting our clients, and his recent role advising Members of Congress in all areas of multi-lateral trade negotiations, trade remedies, customs issues, and trade policy gives him an invaluable perspective on emerging trends in this dynamic area of the law.” He said that Steve was an outstanding and talented lawyer with an incredible background in public service and in the private sector. "We’re pleased to have him join the Trade Practice,” he added.
Claeys also served as House Ways and Means Committee staff lead on all areas of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement negotiations, as well as advising on other trade agreement negotiations. He drafted and helped secure passage of legislation on Trade Promotion Authority, amendments to the US trade remedies law, reauthorisation and restructuring of US Customs and Border Protection, the US-Panama Free Trade Agreement, and Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia.
Prior to his six years on the Hill, Claeys served as deputy assistant secretary for antidumping/countervailing duty operations with the US Department of Commerce, Import Administration, and served as a national security affairs special advisor to the White House, Office of the Vice-President.
Claeys said that Wiley Rein’s International Trade Practice has one of the country’s most elite trade remedy and trade policy teams. “With an extraordinary record of winning large and complex trade cases on behalf of major US industries, the team also helps clients navigate the policies and regulations governing our international economy. The group is among a limited number of practices that regularly serve as principal counsel for major unfair trade investigations. I look forward to working side by side with these talented and sophisticated attorneys, and their impressive clients.”