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Harry Liu
Partner at King & Wood MallesonsMr. Harry Liu is a compliance lawyer with extensive experience in regulatory investigations. He has represented many clients in dealing with Chinese and US government agency investigations in the contexts of FCPA, customs, bribery, data protection, export control, etc. He has been acknowledged widely by international companies as one of the best compliance and regulatory lawyers in China. The clients he has represented include companies in various industries and sectors such as pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, auto-makers, high-tech manufacturers, sport and luxury, advertisement, IT, petrochemical, bio-diesel, dairy products, baby products, food packaging, and food additives, etc.
For a number of years till the year 2021, Mr. Liu has been recommended by the legal media, such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, China Law and Practice and Legal Band, as the band one or special-recommended attorney in compliance, investigation and anti-corruption in China. When awarding him as the Band One attorney in China in January 2017 in the corporate investigation and Anti-corruption sector, Chambers wrote: “Liu Haitao (Harry) is well regarded for his rich experience in a range of areas, including internal investigations, compliance and commercial bribery. He is counsel of choice for a number of leading multinational and Fortune 500 companies. Market sources praised his experience and deep knowledge of various sectors, describing him as “insightful, and has a great ability to play things in the commercial and political framework”. Recently, Mr. Liu was awarded by ACE as the Top 15 Data Privacy Lawyers of the Year of 2021 in China.
Mr. Liu is the chair of the Criminal Law Compliance Research Committee affiliated to Shanghai Bar Association, the deputy chair of the Business Research Institute of Criminal Lawyers of East China University of Political Science and Law and one of the nine nominated expert counsels of Changfeng Base affiliated to Shanghai Procuratorate Research Institute specializing in internet crimes, researcher of Corporate Compliance Research Center of East China Normal University and one of the nominated expert counsels on civil and administrative matters by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. The criminal defense team in KWM Shanghai Office led by him includes members of former senior prosecutor, senior police officer and other professionals with extensive experience in this area.
Christopher B. Monahan
Partner, Washington, DC at Faegre DrinkerChris Monahan advises U.S. and international clients on law and policy affecting complex international transactions across a range of industries. He has extensive experience navigating the nuances of U.S. regulation of international trade and foreign investment, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), matters in front of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
He designs and manages international investigations, audits and compliance assessments, along with the preparation of disclosures and responses to government agency inquiries and subpoenas related to violations of the ITAR, EAR and OFAC sanctions programs.
Chris assesses organizational international trade compliance risks, including those associated with corporate mergers and acquisitions. He has supported companies facing highly technical compliance challenges, as well as defending and resolving serious violations of U.S. export controls with the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce (DDTC and BIS), sanctions administered by the Department of Treasury (OFAC) and anti-corruption laws (FCPA and UK Bribery Act).
Chris also represents clients responding to inquiries and subpoenas from government agencies such as the Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
He has represented U.S. and multinational clients from a variety of industries, including aerospace, defense, aviation, electronics, pharmaceutical and automotive, on matters from day-to-day compliance to licensing, classification and commodity jurisdiction. Chris assists clients in the creation of export compliance programs and conducts trainings on export controls for both U.S. and international companies.
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Nathaniel Rushforth
Senior Associate at HFW
Brinton Scott (Moderator)
Partner at HFWBrinton has extensive experience in advising Fortune 500 and large private multinational corporations in various matters including: investigations (fraud, corruption, and Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act); foreign direct investment; mergers and acquisitions (including merger controls); reorganizations; joint ventures; construction (Greenfield); employment; intellectual property; and technology and licensing. He has advised clients across a broad array of industry sectors including: aerospace; automotive; chemical; construction; food and beverage; insurance; medical device; pharmaceutical; publishing; media and entertainment; real estate; and retail.
Brinton has chaired the Legal Committee of The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai for the past three years. He is responsible for promoting the development of the PRC’s legal
systems and addressing any legislation and regulatory changes that may affect trade, commerce, industry, finance, or services in Shanghai and the PRC.
Some of Brinton’s additional activities include organising and participating in public speaking engagements and in-house training seminars, as well as contributing to legal periodicals and other publications.
Brinton has worked in China for more than two decades and was previously the Shanghai managing partner of a leading US-based law firm, and before that the managing partner of the Shanghai office of a UK-based law firm, where he also headed the firm’s China practice.
Matthew Thomas
Partner, International Trade at Blank RomeMatthew J. Thomas has more than 25 years of experience in international trade, transport and maritime regulation, and government affairs, representing leading energy and commodities companies, shipowners, governments, insurers, investors, ports, shipyards, and marine terminal operators.
Matt works extensively in the areas of international trade sanctions, export controls, and related anti-money laundering measures. He has represented several global companies targeted for U.S. sanctions, reaching successful resolutions with the Departments of State and Treasury ("OFAC"). He has aided numerous clients around the world on sanctions and export control compliance planning, investigations, and transactional due diligence, with particular focus on the energy, commodities, maritime, transport, and services sectors.
In addition, Matt has extensive experience in the maritime, logistics, and container shipping sector. He has represented leading carriers, terminals, and logistics providers in regulatory proceedings before the Federal Maritime Commission (“FMC”), where he formerly served as the Assistant General Counsel for International Affairs. He represents marine terminal operators in complex joint venture arrangements and is experienced in global container operators’ merger and integration projects.
He also counsels private companies and foreign governments on matters of international law and diplomatic strategy, particularly in defending national sovereignty or combating international trade barriers. During his government tenure, he was responsible for the FMC’s relations with foreign governments and multilateral bodies, such as the European Union, World Trade Organization, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Matt works with leading maritime and offshore energy clients on a broad range of compliance issues, including environmental, safety, citizenship, and “Jones Act” coastwise compliance. He has represented leading energy companies in key Jones Act rulings and investigations that have shaped domestic petroleum trade, and structured complex Jones Act compliance ownership structures.
Throughout his career, Matt has built strong relationships with U.S. government officials, trade associations, and the local legal and lobbying community. He guides international businesses in their dealings with the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, Justice, and Transportation, as well as independent regulatory agencies and Congress. In addition to his professional experience in maritime and international trade, Matt has also served as a federal lobbyist and led successful lobbying efforts on the behalf of local governments, advising on federal affairs and managing relations with congressional offices.
Matt’s broad and diverse Washington career has given him unique skills in legal and regulatory strategy and project management, including the design and execution of hybrid legal and government relations efforts to shape policy and achieve client objectives.
Matt wrote the United States chapter for Ports and Terminals (3rd Ed.), a global compendium of port law that was published in 2018 by Getting The Deal Through.