Matthew T. West

Section Chair - International Trade (Firmwide) Partner

[email protected]

Washington, D.C.

P: +1.202.639.7729
F: +1.202.585.1072
Matthew West Photo

Matthew West focuses on international transactions, U.S. regulation of international trade and investment and global trade policy. He assists clients with all aspects of export controls and economic sanctions, U.S. Antiboycott Regulations, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Exon-Florio (CFIUS) proceedings and customs issues. Mr. West has worked extensively with clients on compliance systems planning in these areas.

Mr. West has represented clients in civil and criminal enforcement proceedings brought by the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice, State and the Treasury. He has also represented clients in antidumping and other trade relief actions and related import matters involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Mr. West has worked with clients in a variety of industries, including aircraft, automotive, chemicals, consumer food products, defense, encryption, petroleum and related services, shipping, steel and telecommunications to help provide solutions to trade issues involving countries and areas such as China, India, Korea (North and South), Latin America, the Middle East and states of the former Soviet Union.

Additionally, Mr. West has experience working with governments and private businesses in southern Africa. He has worked in Malawi for the U.S. Department of State, authoring reports on banking, investment, taxation and the criminal court system. He has also been involved with educational research initiatives in Zimbabwe.

Related Experience

Export Controls, Sanctions and Antiboycott

  • NRG’s pending $206 billion acquisition of Edison Mission Energy in bankruptcy 
  • Counseling international aircraft leasing companies on compliance with U.S. export controls and sanctions related to the operation, sale and lease of commercial aircraft; developed compliance and training programs specific to aircraft leasing 
  • Assisting international telecommunications company with encryption control compliance in the development of new software products 
  • Representing intentional satellite operator in connection with development and procurement of new communications satellite 
  • Representing international surveying and positioning technology company in connection with exports of positioning and mapping systems for air, land and marine applications 
  • Counseled and obtained export licenses and technology assistance agreements for international mapping and survey company for exports of munitions lists items for use in various European countries 
  • Representing multinational food products company in obtaining OFAC licenses for a multinational food products company authorizing sales in Iran and Sudan 
  • Obtained a favorable settlement for aerospace repair company in the voluntary disclosure to the State Department of a number of exports/reexports of hardware and/or technology 
  • Advised U.S. computer software technology company on sanctions compliance in dealings with OEMs and other customers and development of sanctions compliance systems 
  • Obtained a favorable resolution with the Bureau of Industry and Security of an enforcement investigation involving exports and reexports of EAR-controlled items by a U.S. data management company 
  • Represented international aircraft leasing companies in connection with voluntary disclosures and U.S. government investigations into compliance with U.S. sanctions and export control laws in the operation of leased aircraft 
  • Defended a European chemical company in connection with the export of EAR-controlled chemicals to various destinations 
  • Obtained favorable settlement for U.S.-based global OEM in connection with antiboycott investigation by the Bureau of Industry and Security

Antidumping and Trade Remedies

  • Represented an international paint and coatings company in ongoing administrative reviews of an antidumping duty order on carboxymethylcellulose in the United States and The Netherlands, including the initial antidumping investigation and subsequent sunset review proceedings of the product by the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission 
  • Assisted manufacturer and marketer of industrial pipe and mechanical tubing in multiple antidumping administrative reviews by the U.S. Department of Commerce of imports of light walled rectangular pipe and tubing and circular welded non-alloy pipe and tubing from Mexico to the United States 
  • Represented manufacturer in sunset review proceeding before the Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission 
  • Represented manufacturers of steel tubing products in new shipper and administrative review proceedings involving circular welded pipe from Mexico 
  • Advised U.S. industrial pipe and tube manufacturer and distributor in connection with safeguard proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission

CFIUS/FINSA

  • Represented Russian energy company before CFIUS in connection with an acquisition of interests in U.S. off-shore blocks 
  • Represented Chinese information/communications solutions provider before CFIUS in acquisitions of U.S. IP assets and in acquisition of joint venture with U.S. IT security software company 
  • Represented Russian-owned industrial gas company in a CFIUS review of its acquisition of a U.S. cutting edge fuel cell development company 
  • Assisted Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in obtaining clearance from CFIUS for a multi-billion dollar joint venture between a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and The Dow Chemical Company 
  • Represented large Russian metals producing corporation in a CFIUS review of its acquisition of a large U.S. metals and mining company

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act


  • Advising international aircraft leasing companies on compliance with U.S. FCPA in connection with the sale and lease of commercial aircraft; developed compliance programs specific to aircraft leasing 
  • Counseling global shipping and logistics company on compliance with international anticorruption laws and the development of anticorruption compliance and training programs 
  • Advising global integrated energy and chemical company on compliance with U.S. FCPA in connection with operations in Africa and Asia 
  • Counseled international automobile manufacturing company on compliance with U.S. FCPA and assisted in the development of anticorruption compliance systems 
  • Conducted anticorruption due diligence on sales agents in Africa and Asia for global defense, security and aerospace systems company

News

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Thought Leadership

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Financial Services Provider Settles with OFAC for Apparent U.S. Sanctions Violations Associated with Processing for Online Payments

Client Updates

On July 23, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced the entry into a $1,400,301.40 settlement with Payoneer, Inc. (“Payoneer”), a global provider of online payment distribution solutions headquartered in New York, for over 2,200 apparent violations of multiple U.S. sanctions programs.

Lack of Familiarity with US Sanctions Results in Steel Manufacturer Settling with OFAC for Apparent Violations

Client Updates

On April 19, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced the entry into a $435,003 settlement with Alliance Steel, Inc. (“Alliance”), a fully integrated manufacturer of metal building systems, structural steel, and components headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for 61 apparent violations of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (“ITSR”), mainly resulting from the Company’s lack of understanding as to the application of U.S. sanctions laws to its isolated international activity.

U.S. Customs Expands Enforcement Against Forced Labor Imports with Seizure of Malaysian PPE

Client Updates

On March 29, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) announced that it will begin seizing imports of certain disposable gloves manufactured by Top Glove Corp. Bhd. (“Top Glove”), the world’s leading producer of disposable rubber gloves based in Malaysia, upon determining that sufficient evidence exists to support a finding that Top Glove is manufacturing the products with the use of convict, forced, or indentured labor.1

Incorrect Export Licensing Determinations Result in Wireless Telecommunications Equipment Manufacturer Settling with BIS for Apparent Export Control Violations

Client Updates

On March 19, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) announced the entry into a $122,000 settlement with Comtech XiCom Technology, Inc. (“Comtech XiCom”), a leading supplier of high power amplifiers for satellite communications based in Santa Clara, CA, for three apparent violations of the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”), caused by Comtech XiCom’s mistaken belief that certain exports could be made without BIS license or authorization.

 

Failure to Address "Red Flags" Results in U.S. Manufacturer Settling with OFAC for Apparent U.S. Sanctions Violations

Client Updates

On March 16, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) announced the entry into a $216,464 settlement with UniControl, Inc. (“UniControl”), a process controls and instrumentation manufacturer headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, for 21 apparent violations of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (“ITSR”), mostly resulting from UniControl’s failure to address several warning signs that shipments may be intended specifically for supply, transshipment, or reexport to Iran.(1)

Events

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