Christopher H. Skinner

Partner

Chris focuses his practice on international trade, including export controls, economic sanctions, customs and import regulation, and trade remedy actions.

Skinner_Christopher

Chris has represented a variety of companies with respect to compliance with US export restrictions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) administered by the US State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) administered by the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and economic sanctions regulations administered by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He has also advised companies on national security reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Additionally, Chris has extensive experience representing US importers and non-US exporters in a variety of US customs matters including origin verifications, ruling requests, protests, tariff classifications, seizures, prior disclosures, requests for internal advice, penalties, customs investigations, country of origin marking, valuation and duty drawback. He has also represented both petitioners and respondents in antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) matters brought before the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission.

Client Work

  • Conducted a comprehensive export controls compliance program gap assessment and internal audit across multiple jurisdictions for a major semiconductor industry supplier.
  • Defend US exporter from subpoena and U.S. Government investigation, and prepare voluntary self-disclosure, in connection with unauthorized exports of defense equipment and ITAR brokering activities in support of Ukraine’s armed forces.
  • Conduct internal investigation and develop a large-scale customs Prior Disclosure to correct related-party valuation discrepancies and underpayments of Section 301 duties by multinational electrical products supplier.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions 

Publications

  • Co-author and Co-editor, International Practitioner’s Deskbook Series, US Customs: Practitioner’s Guide to Principles, Processes, and Procedures, Second Edition (2016)
  • Co-author and Co-editor, International Legal Developments in Review: 2022 and 2023, International Trade Law, The International Lawyer, ABA Section of International Law

Presentations

  • How to Comply with ITAR’s Rules for Foreign, Dual, and Third-Country Nationals, American Conference Institute, ITAR Proficiency Series (October 2023)
  • Doing Business In and With Emerging Markets 2022: FCPA, Sanctions, and AML Concerns, Practicing Law Institute (June 2022)
  • Introduction to the US Export Administration Regulations, European Group for Aerospace, Defence & Dual-Use (EGADD) Annual US Export Controls Workshop (September 2019, May 2018, May 2017, May 2016) 
  • Export Controls Compliance for Importers, International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) Annual Meeting (March 2019)
  • Update on Developments in Export Controls and Economic Sanctions, Squire Patton Boggs Global Compliance Forum: Minimizing Risk to Protect Your Business Interests (November 2017)
  • Getting CCL Classification Right, American Conference Institute’s EAR Boot Camp (May 2016)
  • Getting Customs Valuation Right, American Conference Institute’s 10th Advanced Forum on Import Compliance & Enforcement (January 2016)
  • Iranian Sanctions for 2014 and Beyond, The Knowledge Group Webcast (June 2014)
  • Hello, My Name is ITAR: An Introduction to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, L2 Federal Resources Seminars (April 2013)
  • What to Do When You Discover a Deemed Export Violation:  How to Work with IT and HR to Investigate and Remedy Wrongdoing, American Conference Institute’s National Forum on International Technology Transfers & Deemed Export Compliance (January 2013)

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

Memberships

  • American Bar Association International Law Section - Custom Law Committee, Co-Chair
  • American Bar Association International Law Section - Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee and National Security Law Committee, Steering Group Member and Former Co-Chair
  • Society for International Affairs
  • National Council on International Trade Development
  • International Compliance Professionals Association 

Life Beyond the Law

Outside of work, Chris is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys – but admits to being very average at – running, biking, playing acoustic guitar, and disc golf. 

Perspectives