Stephen Heifetz and Marc Frey Join Steptoe & Johnson LLP

(April 30, 2010, Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP announced today that Stephen Heifetz and Marc Frey have joined the firm’s Washington office. Mr. Heifetz, partner, and Dr. Frey, senior director, join Steptoe from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The addition of Mr. Heifetz and Dr. Frey enhances the firm’s Homeland Security practice, headed by former Assistant Secretary for Policy at DHS, Stewart A. Baker.

“We welcome Stephen and Marc, who will help clients navigate complex rules and policies at the nexus of international business and security,” said Roger E. Warin, Chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee. “The broad implications of homeland security laws, regulations, and policies increasingly require companies and governments to have detailed understandings of the relevant rules, practices, and political dynamics.”

Mr. Heifetz and Dr. Frey most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff, respectively, for the Office of Policy Development at DHS. In these positions, they worked extensively with senior personnel at DHS headquarters and component agencies —including the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration Customs Enforcement—to develop policies on a range of issues. These issues included air and maritime cargo screening; aviation, border, and transportation security; visa screening and visa delays; the Visa Waiver Program; international security cooperation; and bio-security.

Mr. Heifetz previously served as Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy Development and shaped the Department’s positions in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews foreign acquisitions of US companies. He played a key role in developing new CFIUS laws and regulations and reviewed hundreds of proposed acquisitions, including several the Committee disapproved. He also negotiated many agreements the Committee deemed necessary for approval.

In his practice before joining DHS, Mr. Heifetz specialized in helping companies comply with anti-money laundering regulations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, export controls, and economic sanctions laws. He represented clients before the financial regulatory agencies, the Departments of Justice, Treasury, State, Defense, and Commerce, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Congress.

“I look forward to working with the firm’s Homeland Security practice and drawing on Steptoe’s existing marquee practices like international regulation and compliance, telecommunications and Internet, and government affairs,” said Mr. Heifetz.

Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Dr. Frey oversaw the development and implementation of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) policy and program activities. In that role, he directed the successful interagency effort to expand and enhance the security of the VWP. In addition, he led US government negotiations on security and law enforcement agreements with participating countries and managed the statutorily required security assessments of 36 member countries.

He also served as the Senior Advisor to DHS’s Chief Security Officer, where he shaped counterintelligence, law enforcement, facility protection, contingency planning, and other security-related policies and programs. Prior to his service at DHS, Dr. Frey worked as an analyst on national and homeland security issues for two defense contractors where he specialized in assessments of long-range trends and emerging technologies and capabilities for the Department of Defense.

“Steptoe is a firm that recognizes the growing need for professional advice on the broad range of Homeland Security-related issues,” said Dr. Frey. “I’m particularly eager to help Steptoe’s clients understand and navigate the Visa Waiver Program, passenger and cargo screening, and other travel and trade facilitation programs.”

About Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has 500 lawyers in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.