Alice Alexandra Kipel

Partner

• akipel@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Alice Kipel is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she is a member of the International Department and Intellectual Property group. She focuses on international trade matters, chiefly those affecting imports into the United States.   

Ms. Kipel has been involved in all facets of Title VII proceedings (antidumping and countervailing duty cases), at both the US International Trade Commission and the US Department of Commerce.  In addition, Ms. Kipel has extensive experience in litigation before the International Trade Commission in actions arising under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (unfair import practices), and is an active participant in bar activities in the field, including publication of articles regarding Section 337.  She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association.

A significant portion of Ms. Kipel’s professional experience has entailed appearing in appellate proceedings before the US Court of International Trade and the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, stemming from Title VII and Section 337 cases, as well as actions taken by US Customs & Border Protection. Additionally, Ms. Kipel has handled a variety of matters before Customs, such as procedures to record and enforce copyrights and trademarks, penalty proceedings, settlement of claims, as well as country of origin, classification, and other issues.

Ms. Kipel’s focus on administrative proceedings has also included the preparation and submission of comments to the International Trade Commission and Commerce Department regarding rulemaking proposals.  Further, she has had substantial involvement in drafting and commenting upon rule proposals affecting practice before the Court of International Trade.  Ms. Kipel currently serves as Chair of the Court of International Trade’s Advisory Committee, which is authorized by statute to assist the court in rulemaking and other procedural matters.

Noteworthy

• Ranked, Chambers Global 2008: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business; US: International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337)
• Ranked, Chambers USA 2007, America’s Leading Business Lawyers; National International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337)

Success Stories

• Canadian Wheat and Lumber Have Two Further Victories

News

• Alice A. Kipel to Chair US Court of International Trade Advisory Committee
• Chambers and Partners Names Steptoe A Leading Firm in 22 Practice Areas
• Major Victory for Canadian Softwood Lumber Team
• 2003 Attorney Promotions

Speaking Engagements

• "AD/CVD/Safeguard Investigation Processes in the US" Conference at the Inter-American Development Bank, May 15, 2008
• "The Reach of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930," American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Annual Meeting, October 19-21, 2006, Washington, DC
• Steptoe Hosts Section 337 Teleconference, February 23, 2006, (A Steptoe-sponsored event)

Publications

• How to Start From Behind and Finish Ahead: Section 337 From a Respondent's Perspective
  September 12, 2005
• Intellectual Property Weapon of Choice, Customs Agents Work for You under Little Known Law
  July 2004, Executive Counsel
• Co-author, “The Standard of Review Applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in International Trade and Customs Cases"
  This article addresses the standards of judicial review relevant to international and customs cases, and questions the wisdom of reapplication by the Federal Circuit of the same standard of review applied by the Court of International Trade
  1996, 45 Am. U. L. Rev. 1749
• Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries
  The 77-page chapter authored by Ms. Kipel addresses the special treatment accorded to developing countries under various multilateral trade agreements and US international trade laws (e.g., the Generalized System of Preferences).
  1996, The World Trade Organization--The Multilateral Trade Framework for the 21st Century and US Implementing Legislation, ABA

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association