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Sorini Strategic Advisors

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About Us

Company Overview

At Sorini Strategic Advisors (SSA - formerly known as Sorini, Samet & Associates) we help companies, trade associations, and governments solve complex international trade and supply chain challenges. Drawing on decades of combined experience, we anticipate policy shifts, forecast their impact, and guide clients through an evolving global landscape.

From securing free trade agreements to ensuring supply chain traceability, our mission is to help you operate with confidence in an ever-changing global market.

Why choose us

Tariff Strategy & Relief

SSA has produced billions in client savings and set precedents across multiple administrations.  Examples include:

  • Achieved a 30% Section 301 exclusion win rate – roughly fifteen times the national average -with multiple extensions through 2025.
  • Secured removal or exclusion for 31 of 79 affected product lines for a major consumer-goods company, delivering approximately $150 million in annual savings on its own.
  • Won Section 232 tariff parity for a U.S. vehicle company, eliminating a built-in disadvantage against Canadian competitors.
  • Obtained Annex III placement and reciprocal-tariff exemptions for key wood products, protecting U.S. manufacturers from new duties.
  • Cut permanent duties on protective footwear from 37.5% to 20% through targeted reclassification strategy.
  • Blocked Section 201 quotas that would have destabilized U.S. yarn spinning and upstream textile supply chains.
  • Secured USMCA rules-of-origin changes that locked in duty-free treatment for a core plastics product.

Trade Agreement & Program Architecture

We have helped write and re-engineer the programs and agreements that drive modern supply chains.

  • Designed and advanced the HOPE I, HOPE II, and HELP Acts for Haiti, embedding flexible rules that expanded qualifying production and sustained Western Hemisphere apparel and U.S. cotton and yarn exports.
  • Drafted the GSP UPDATE Act, the first major GSP expansion in four decades, opening the program to travel goods such as luggage, handbags, backpacks, and sports bags.
  • Led GSP modernization efforts, including CNL reform and restored eligibility for Indonesian lauan plywood.
  • Secured PNTR for Laos and Cambodia and helped secure the first QIZ designations in Egypt and Jordan, catalyzing new investment and export growth.
  • Created new HTS classifications for “recreational performance outdoor wear,” generating the trade data needed to support long-term duty-reduction strategies for performance apparel.
  • Served as primary advisers to a major East Asian government in FTA negotiations with the United States, solving politically sensitive issues in autos, agriculture, and textiles that were ultimately reflected in U.S. implementing legislation.

Policy & Legislative Solutions

We move policy, not just comment on it.

  • Built and led the Ship Safe Coalition, turning de minimis reform from a technical grievance into a bipartisan congressional and executive-branch priority.
  • Coordinated multinational producers to preserve EU duty-free treatment for targeted sectors during high-risk preference reviews.
  • Secured expansions and modernizations of U.S. preference programs when they were stalled or at risk of contraction.
  • Helped preserve MFN/normal trade relations and manage sanctions and enforcement initiatives where blunt measures threatened integrated, law-abiding supply chains.

Classification & Compliance Engineering

We use classification, origin, and compliance as offensive tools to secure market access and reduce risk.

  • Won multiple short-supply approvals for fabrics and yarns under free trade agreements, unlocking more competitive regional sourcing options.
  • Created new HTS provisions for performance outdoor and other specialized products, providing a durable platform for future duty-reduction efforts.
  • Secured the release of UFLPA-detained shipments through combined CBP advocacy and targeted congressional engagement.
  • Achieved removal of a garment sector from the forced-labor TVPRA list — the only removal that year.
  • Helped design Better Work programs in Cambodia, Jordan, and Haiti, aligning labor-rights objectives with commercially workable compliance systems.
  • Defended governments in FTA labor disputes and WTO proceedings, protecting continued market access while strengthening labor and compliance frameworks.
  • Working with Neville Peterson LLP, resolved complex customs and trade-remedy disputes, protecting favorable classifications and minimizing duty and enforcement exposure.

Our Team

Ron Sorini

Founder and Principal

Ron Sorini manages the firm's business development, consulting, and lobbying practice, which focus on...

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Rick Helfenbein

Special Advisor

Rick Helfenbein, Special Advisor for Sorini Strategic Advisors, is the former Chairman, President...

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Lee Johnson

Senior Advisor

Lee Johnson is a veteran Washington professional with a distinguished record of public service, private...

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Joseph Dunne

Senior Advisor for European Affairs

Joseph Dunne is a senior policy expert with more than three decades of experience...

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Mattie Amagai

Vice President - Government Relations

As Vice President of Government Relations at SSA, Mattie Amagai provides strategic, political and technical...

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Megan Costello

Vice President - Trade and Customs Policy

Megan is an international trade and customs policy professional who excels at combining technical expertise....

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Andrea Curtis

Director - Classification and Rulings

Andrea “Andi” Curtis provides our clients with expert advice on all matters related to classification...

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Molly Cannon

Director - Operations & Executive Coordination

Molly Cannon joined SSA in November 2022 and is responsible for coordinating SSA’s dynamic schedule...

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Jackson House

Policy Associate

Jackson House joined Sorini Strategic Advisors in November 2024 as a Policy...

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Rafael Centeno

Policy Associate

Rafael Centeno, our newest SSA team member, joins us from the Washington International Trade Association (WITA), where he was the 2024–2025 WITA Academy Fellow and an intern in 2023...

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Diksha Chugani

Advisor, Customs and Trade

Diksha is a global trade and customs professional with over a decade of experience...

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Lawrence J. Bogard

Legal Counsel

Lawrence J. Bogard, Partner of Neville Peterson, Customs and Trade Attorneys...

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Michael K. Tomenga

Legal Counsel

Michael Tomenga, Partner of Neville Peterson, Customs and Trade Attorneys, fulfilled his...

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Maria Celis

Legal Counsel

Maria E. Celis is the current General Counsel for a Japanese cosmetics company...

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Ron Sorini

Founder and Principal

Ron Sorini manages the firm’s business development, consulting, and lobbying practice, which focus on legislation, regulatory affairs and international trade negotiations. He represents a wide range of companies and trade associations before the U.S. Congress and various governments. Ron’s unique combination of government, political, and corporate experience enables him to offer well-rounded strategic advice and international market analysis to multinational corporations and foreign governments. A recognized expert in the areas of trade negotiations, international politics, and the economy, Ron has been featured on NPR including All Things Considered and Planet Money, CNBC, Voice of America, and others.

Prior to founding Sorini Strategic Advisors, Ron ran a successful government affairs practice of an international trade law firm for eight years. Ron created and developed this practice into a multi-million dollar business, where he served on the firm’s operating committee and managed the practice’s business development and trade negotiations.

After serving in the administration of President George H. W. Bush, Ron served as Senior Vice President for International Development & Government Relations at Fruit of the Loom for six years. At Fruit of the Loom, Ron conducted an intensive study on the Chinese market, identified potential business partners, and began negotiations on a manufacturing/marketing joint venture. He also analyzed new locations for manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Central America, and developed strategies for hedging in the international cotton market. He developed and advocated company positions on trade, tax, and regulatory issues before the U.S. Government. Ron also started and managed the company’s Political Action Committee.

Ron has more than thirteen years of experience in high-level positions in the federal government at the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

In 1989, Ron was appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the position of Chief Textile Negotiator at USTR, holding the rank of Ambassador. Ron advised the U.S. Trade Representative, the Cabinet, and the President on domestic and international economic issues. He developed and implemented policies to enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. fiber, textile, and apparel industries. Ron chaired U.S. delegations in the negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Uruguay Round, which lead to the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and bilateral agreements with more than fifty nations. He developed U.S. negotiating positions, weighing the views of other government agencies, domestic industry, retailers and broader economic and foreign policy considerations. His successful negotiations opened foreign markets for domestic manufacturers, helped U.S. companies with trademark and design counterfeiting problems, and worked with the U.S. Customs Service to identify and eliminate fraud and circumvention of U.S. trade agreements.

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Rick Helfenbein

Special Advisor

Rick Helfenbein, Special Advisor for Sorini Strategic Advisors, is the former Chairman, President & CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the national trade association representing more than 1,000 brands in the apparel, footwear, and accessories industry.

At AAFA, Mr. Helfenbein oversaw a complete overhaul of the association. Under his leadership, AAFA dramatically increased its revenue base, re-branded itself with a new logo, website, newsletter and increased AAFA’s presence on Capitol Hill, achieving notable legislative victories.

Mr. Helfenbein also increased AAFA’s national and international exposure, with notable press coverage in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and Forbes. He also appears on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, BBC, and Fox.

Prior to joining AAFA as President & CEO, Mr. Helfenbein served on the AAFA Board for 10 years and had risen to be a two term Chairman of their Board of Directors. At that time, he also served as President of all USA operations for Luen Thai Holdings Limited – USA Companies in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and California.

Luen Thai was the largest publicly listed apparel manufacturing and supply chain services company on the Hong Kong Exchange with a major presence in the Philippines & Cambodia. Customers included Polo Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Dillard’s, Banana Republic, Adidas, Victoria’s Secret, Macys, Adidas, and Uniqlo in Japan.

Mr. Helfenbein started at Luen Thai as the USA Representative when the company maintained approximately $300 million in annual sales. When he left (after 16 years to lead AAFA full time), Luen Thai’s annual volume had quadrupled to $1.3 billion.

Mr. Helfenbein has been credited with numerous achievements in the apparel and supply chain field, including the creation of the original Le Tigre brand, and splitting Izod from Lacoste. He introduced Burlington Industries into the apparel manufacturing segment, turned around two ailing apparel companies, and developed the apparel structure for several popular global brands.

Mr. Helfenbein served on the management boards of Campus Sportswear, Crystal Brands (Lacoste), and the Board of Blythedale Children’s Hospital in New York. Prior to Luen Thai, he served as a President at Lacoste and as a Managing Director at Burlington Industries.

Rick holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton Business School. He participates annually in the Consortium for Operational Excellence in Retailing at Wharton and Harvard and guest lectures at Wharton, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell and continues to provide commentary on national & international TV as well as in Forbes and other print media.

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Lee Johnson

Senior Advisor

Lee Johnson is a veteran Washington professional with a distinguished record of public service, private counseling and advocacy for organizations that must navigate the governmental, political and judicial environment of the United States.

He began his career after graduation from law school with political campaign work on behalf of the Republican National Committee and the Presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan, followed by service in the Office of Congressional Affairs for the Federal Trade Commission.

He served in senior positions on Capitol Hill, including as Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel for two Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, E. Clay Shaw, Jr., Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways & Means Committee, and J. Kenneth Robinson, a respected member of the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees.

Lee later moved to the U.S. Senate, where he held the positions of Leadership Chief of Staff for U.S. Senate Republican Conference Chairman and Vice Chairman, Connie Mack of Florida and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas. In his role as chief of staff for the Conference, Lee was responsible for communications on behalf of the leadership, including television, radio, Intranet support, and the “message of the day” from the Senate floor.

When Lee was not in public service, he was affiliated with law firms in Florida and Washington, and with two of America’s leading public relations firms, Burson/Marsteller, where he was a Managing Director and head of the Grassroots Division in the Public Affairs Group; and Golin Harris, where he was Vice President of Public Affairs. He also represented the international office building industry as Legislative Counsel for BOMA International in its Washington DC headquarters.

He formed a media company, Congressional Media Group, LLC, to create and produce television and video content for clients. He also formed a public affairs group, 101 Strategy Partners, LLC, to operate as a consortium of professionals with complementary skill sets. Included within this group are experts in media and communications, polling, lobbying, advertising and public relations, and high-level leadership counsel provided by retired general officers who served as former commanders of the National Guard Bureau and special forces of the United States Marine Corps.

In the non-profit sector, Lee is the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Washington Political Film Foundation, an educational foundation which uses film as a medium to promote civility and dialogue in American society with a special emphasis on college campuses.

Lee is a graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a B.A. degree in History. His law degree is from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Lee is a member of the District of Columbia, State of Florida, and United States Supreme Court Bars.

He was a Navy ROTC Scholarship student as an undergraduate in college and served as a midshipman aboard USS Kretchmer (DER 329), as part of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV 11) task force, North Atlantic, summer 1972.

Among his enduring memories of public service is an encounter on the Senate floor with former Senate President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Impressed by the Senator’s orations regarding the history of republican Rome and its constitution, Lee engaged in a conversation with the Senator about the historians of the classical ages of Greece and Rome.

Senator Byrd’s belief was that America’s Founders drew upon the history of the Roman Senate when they designed America’s constitutional system and provided its Senate with unique powers as a check upon the executive branch.

Senator Byrd later presented Lee with a personal copy of his book, The Senate of the Roman Republic: Addresses on the History of Roman Constitutionalism, which is among the most treasured of Lee’s library collection.

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Joseph Dunne

Senior Advisor for European Affairs

Joseph Dunne is a senior policy expert with more than three decades of experience in legislation and regulatory policymaking in Brussels and in Washington DC.

Joseph is currently a Research Professor in the GW Institute of Public Policy at the George Washington University, developing research projects in the area of AI and the public sector, particularly in local government and in parliaments.

Between 2019 and mid-2023, he served as Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington DC (EPLO), responsible for relations with the U.S. Congress, and developed legislative dialogue on digital policy, trade, taxation and other areas of common interest.

For much of his career, Joseph worked on EU legislation, including as staff director (Head of Secretariat) for the European Parliament Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (2004-2012). As Head of Unit and later Acting Director for Impact Assessment and European Added Value (2013-2016), he worked successfully to improve the toolkit on Better Regulation. He was Deputy Chef de Cabinet for President Pat Cox from 2002 to 2004 and worked in the Cabinet of the EP Secretary General (1999-2002). Joseph began his career in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and served as Secretary of Embassy in Madrid, Spain.

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Mattie Amagai

Vice President - Government Relations

As Vice President of Government Relations at SSA, Mattie Amagai provides strategic, political and technical advice on policy, legislative and regulatory matters relating to trade. In this capacity, she works as part of a team to deliver expertise and creative solutions to trade challenges for various businesses and associations.

Before joining SSA, Mattie served as Vice President of Client Services at a government relations consulting firm, managing government affairs programs for numerous clients in the advanced manufacturing, energy and high-tech sectors. This includes tracking and advising on US federal and state policy developments for one of the world’s largest energy companies and managing their congressional relations activities.

Mattie provided in-depth reporting and analysis on various trade and international policy issues for global companies and foreign sovereigns including CFIUS reform, Section 201 and 301 tariff issues, US sanctions policy, GSP exclusions, AD/CVD cases, various trade-related legislation and geopolitical matters, among other issues.

Mattie has also advised companies from around the world on US and international market entry, including regulatory and policy considerations, relationship building and analyses of the various markets and politics. She has collaborated closely with international partners in these efforts particularly in Asia and South America.

In her early career, Mattie managed international USAID-funded political party development projects in the Eurasian region, with a particular focus on Moldova and Belarus. She coordinated regularly with the USG and overseas offices, helped to arrange high level delegations and provided briefings and talking points to Members of Congress on issues impacting the region.

Mattie helped to arrange and participated in election observation missions in Donetsk and Zhytomyr, Ukraine, as well as several in Moldova. Mattie also served briefly on a presidential campaign and as an intern on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, focusing on immigration issues.

Mattie is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where she received a degree in Government/International Relations and Russian Language. She lives in Mount Vernon, Virginia with her husband Bryan, son Theodore, and two cats.

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Megan Costello

Vice President - Trade and Customs Policy

Megan is an international trade and customs policy professional who excels at combining technical expertise with the ability to navigate Washington’s dynamic policy challenges to deliver comprehensive solutions.

She works on behalf of small businesses, multinational corporations and industry trade associations representing both importers and domestic producers to mitigate tariff exposure by securing targeted relief and utilizing existing policy tools such as FTAs, preference programs, and U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones. Megan and her team also excel in developing creative and workable modifications to overcome outdated policy structures. She also facilitates industry DC fly-ins and individual company advocacy outreach to Members of Congress and the Administration, ensuring they understand the real-world impact of existing and proposed trade policies.

While her expertise is rooted in the nuanced trade rules governing strategic sourcing of textiles, apparel, footwear, travel goods, and outdoor equipment, her experience spans industry sectors.

Megan, a Virginia native, holds a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree from George Mason University. She loves everything outdoors, especially cycling, hiking, and SUPing, and her fur child, an Australian Labradoodle named Louie.

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Andrea Curtis

Director - Classification and Rulings

Andrea “Andi” Curtis provides our clients with expert advice on all matters related to classification of imports under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, including finished products, parts, and raw materials. Andi helps our clients understand the requirements for meeting rules of origin, including under free trade agreements and preference programs, and assists with DR-CAFTA short supply petitions.

Andi joined the firm after several years at Cabela’s Inc., where she led a team of classification specialists in their Global Trade department. Prior to joining the Cabela’s Global Trade team in 2013, she held various roles in apparel product development for 15 years.

This knowledge and experience provided the perfect background to perform true tariff engineering—bridging the gap between design and import classification and enabling designers and product developers to understand how design, materials, and construction affect duty rates. She helped achieve lower duty rates in apparel, footwear, and hardgoods through education and training of the product development team, developing a process to review design concepts and perform pre-classification during initial development, and submitting successful Customs ruling requests.

In her unique role at Cabela’s, Andi ensured that Cabela’s products complied with Customs and Border Protection guidelines by setting up product development testing protocols, maintaining pre-qualification paperwork for Free Trade Agreements, and conducting audits of existing classifications.

Andi earned an MS in Textile Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) and maintains memberships in both ASTM International and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). In 2016, she became a Certified Classification Specialist®, and in 2025, she became a Licensed Customs Broker. Andi served two terms on the Professional Advisory Council for the UNL Textile, Merchandising and Fashion Design department.

In her free time, Andi enjoys sewing, reading, doing home improvement projects, and volunteering in her community.

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Molly Cannon

Director - Operations & Executive Coordination

Molly Cannon joined SSA in November 2022 and is responsible for coordinating SSA’s dynamic schedule as well as providing critical administrative support. She is also working to optimize SSA’s online presence. Prior to this role, Molly was an intern, assistant and then Legislative Aide for a Maryland State Senator from 2020 to 2022.

She earned her BA in Public Policy from the University of Maryland in 2021. During her undergrad years, she interned for the Maryland Association of Counties, the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, and the Maryland General Assembly. Molly was born and raised in Maryland, where she still resides.

In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and playing the piano.

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Jackson House

Policy Associate

Jackson House joined Sorini Strategic Advisors in November 2024 as a Policy Associate. In this role, Jackson conducts research on a wide breadth of trade issues, drafts materials for policy briefings, analyzes trade data to promote client interests, and supports all firm advocacy efforts.

Just before joining SSA, Jackson worked as an intern for the Washington International Trade Association (WITA) in Washington, DC. While at WITA, he helped coordinate over a dozen trade-related webinars and in-person events, conducted weekly research on new trade policy developments, and assisted in managing relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders.

In May 2024, Jackson graduated from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri with a BA in Economics and Political Science. While attending Saint Louis University, he completed internships with the Office of former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, the Arkansas Department of Commerce, and the Washington, DC office of Congressman French Hill (AR-02).

Jackson is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. When not at work, he is a passionate fan of college football and the Arkansas Razorbacks. He also enjoys watching professional hockey, especially the St. Louis Blues, engaging with Washington, DC’s rich history, and reading.

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Rafael Centeno

Policy Associate

Rafael Centeno, our newest SSA team member, joins us from the Washington International Trade Association (WITA), where he was the 2024–2025 WITA Academy Fellow and an intern in 2023.

At WITA, he supported daily operations and programming for in-person and virtual trade policy events, engaging with U.S. government officials, private sector stakeholders, and embassy delegations. He also contributed to the production of WITA’s weekly trade policy newsletter.

Rafael graduated from Florida International University in 2024 with a BBA in International Business. During his time at FIU, he held leadership roles in the International Business Honor Society and took part in the Hamilton Scholars Program in Washington, D.C.

Rafael is fluent in Spanish and German and has a strong interest in international collaboration. He enjoys learning about new cultures and languages and currently serves as President (2025–2026) of the Rotaract Club of Washington, D.C., where he leads professional development, community service, and fellowship-building initiatives.

In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, taking care of his houseplants, and volunteering.

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Diksha Chugani

Advisor, Customs and Trade

Diksha is a global trade and customs professional with over a decade of experience working on cross-border compliance and strategies. Diksha’s technical and strategic experience spans across the various critical trade compliance areas including Customs valuation, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) optimization, tariff strategy, customs broker management, export compliance and sanctions. Her passion and expertise is working across a range of sectors to help businesses navigate complex and dynamic regulatory frameworks on a global scale, mitigate risk, and unlock operational efficiencies. Diksha has held leadership roles at leading life sciences and consumer goods companies where she has built robust trade compliance programs spanning the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Diksha has also served as a trade advisory consultant and supported clients on regulatory reviews, customs planning, and trade risk assessments.

Diksha holds a BBA in International Business from Singapore Management University. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative, hands-on approach, Diksha works with stakeholders across legal, logistics, and finance teams to translate complex trade requirements into practical, scalable solutions. Outside work, she contributes thought leadership on evolving trade policies and enjoys mentoring young compliance professionals.

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Lawrence J. Bogard

Legal Counsel

Lawrence J. Bogard, Partner of Neville Peterson, Customs and Trade Attorneys, practices before the federal administrative agencies and courts responsible for the tariff and trade laws, particularly those involving such remedies for unfair trade practices as antidumping and countervailing duties.

He has represented clients from a variety of industries in proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office.

He frequently counsels clients on the impact of U.S. trade regulation on international business planning.

Mr. Bogard represents both domestic and foreign interests. For example, he has represented major European and Korean chemical companies, members of the Japanese automotive industry, a French jet engine manufacturer, a European sweetener manufacturer, an Italian food products manufacturer, and a Chinese nail manufacturer.

Among domestic interests, he has represented U.S. manufacturers of a variety of fabricated metal products, both individually and as members of trade associations, a major manufacturer of wire and cable products, members of the U.S. aluminum industry, a manufacturer of household appliances, and a manufacturer of art supply products.

The following sample reflects Mr. Bogard’s representation of interested parties in international trade proceedings: Section 201 (“Escape Clause”) investigation of automobiles from Japan Section 201 investigation of motorcycles from Japan Section 421 investigation of ductile iron pipe fittings from China Section 22 (Agricultural Adjustment Act) investigation of tobacco Countervailing duty and/or antidumping proceedings involving malleable iron pipe fittings from Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea Countervailing duty and/or antidumping proceedings involving carbon steel pipe fittings from Brazil, China, France, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Venezuela Antidumping proceedings involving stainless steel pipe fittings from Japan Antidumping investigations of ceiling fans and oscillating electric fans from China Antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings involving aluminum electrical conductor rod from Venezuela Antidumping investigation of medium voltage underground distribution cable from Canada Antidumping proceedings involving antifriction bearings from France and Italy Antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings involving pasta from Italy Antidumping investigation of polyvinyl alcohol from South Korean Antidumping investigation against artist canvas from The people’s Republic of China Antidumping proceedings involving certain steel nails from The People’s Republic of China

Mr. Bogard has represented or counseled U.S. companies significantly effected by antidumping or countervailing duty orders against such products as DRAMs from South Korea, Polyethylene Retail Carrier bags from Thailand, Certain Industrial Belts from Japan, Radio Tuners from Japan, and Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from Japan.

Mr. Bogard played key roles in litigation before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit resolving such issues of U.S. antidumping law as the proper standard for analyzing injury caused by concurrent unfairly traded imports from multiple countries and the standing of petitioners to seek remedies under the antidumping laws, as well as seminal issues defining the “transferability” of subsidies, so-called “targeted” dumping, and “level of trade” price adjustments in related party transactions under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

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Michael K. Tomenga

Legal Counsel

Michael Tomenga, Partner of Neville Peterson, Customs and Trade Attorneys, fulfilled his childhood ambitions — as would any normal child in America — by commencing his legal career in the Office of Regulations and Rulings (ORR) at U.S. Customs Service Headquarters in Washington DC. He credits his sister, who was working as an import specialist in NY, for the decision. Six years later, having worked in all of the substantive areas of ORR and gained experience from details to field offices, he entered private practice. The ensuing 30 years of gratification from assisting clients large and small with their full gamut of import and export regulatory issues have been diminished only by the annual, heartbreaking failures of the Washington Capitals to win a Stanley Cup as other NHL expansion teams have gone on to establish dynasties. Fortunately his daughter has introduced him to the successful world of U.S. Women’s National Team soccer. The added benefit is that they play fewer games than the Caps do in a season making it easier to get work done. He has nearly 30 years experience in the areas of Customs law, international trade, and export regulation. He counsels and represents clients on the broad range of laws administered by the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and export controls administered by the U.S. Commerce Department and the State Department, as well as proposed legislation before Congress and trade policy matters before the Office of the United States Trade Representative. He has in-depth knowledge of the issues faced by importers and exporters within a myriad of industries whose products include: agricultural commodities, seafood, processed food, drugs, medical devices, apparel and other textile articles, chemicals, pesticides, computers, telecommunications, and networking equipment, industrial and consumer products, manufactured metal products, and toys. His clients range in size from global Fortune 500 corporations to small and infrequent importers and exporters.

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Maria Celis

Legal Counsel​

As the daughter of two physicians, an Obstetrician and a Neurologist, Ms. Celis’ first major at Columbia University was Pre-Medicine.  However, she migrated to a Political Science major, after finding her niche in international law and diplomacy courses.  She never looked back after being admitted into the Accelerated Entry Program at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and was fortunate to find so many valuable internships at the European Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and then finally at the Court  of International Trade with Honorable Donald C. Pogue.

With more than twenty-five years experience, Ms. Celis is of counsel in the New York office of Neville Peterson LLP and enjoys working with Fortune 500, medium size, and smaller clients, practicing in the areas of international trade, Customs, export law, and other federal regulatory matters. She relishes resolving all types of issues, whether it deals with the Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices, shipping regulations on lithium batteries, or filing a Customs prior disclosure on the valuation of a client’s merchandise. She has represented clients before the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Ms. Celis has been asked to speak before numerous groups regarding trade and compliance, including:  Cargo Logistics America in San Diego, California; the Mediterranean Anglo-American Business Network (MAABN) in Aix-en Provence and Marseille, France; the International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA); the Midwest Global Trade Association (MGTA), in Minneapolis, MN; the Knowledge Group (webinars); and the Xinji Chamber of Commerce in Hebei, China, on such issues as FDA Compliance, Exporting and Business Strategies During a Recession, INCOTERMS, Free Trade Agreements, Essentials in Commercial Contracts, and Payment Terms in International Commercial Contracts; and NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

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