Clinton counsels clients through a full range of international trade regulations affecting corporate and commercial transactions. He is also experienced in advocating for clients that find themselves in the crosshairs of agency enforcement, whether in the context of investigations, penalties or voluntary disclosures.

Clinton represents clients before federal agencies that administer international trade regulations, including the U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC); Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS); the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

Notably, Clinton is a member of the team assisting the Special Compliance Coordinator appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to monitor, assess and report on the U.S. export control compliance of Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China, and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ZTE).

His experience in customs regulations and trade remedies includes Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs, antidumping and countervailing duties, product marking and country of origin issues, tariff classification, valuation, free trade agreements and trade preference programs. He is also skilled in antidumping and countervailing duties proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) and the International Trade Administration (ITA), and also the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC).

In addition, Clinton supports the firm’s compliance and federal procurement and national security practice groups on a broad array of matters. He also teaches basic and advanced level courses across the country on compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and OFAC.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Clinton practiced customs and international trade law in Houston, Texas, representing some of the largest energy companies in the world.