Meredith A. Rathbone

Partner

• mrathbone@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Meredith Rathbone is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she is a member of the International Department.

International Regulatory Compliance
Export Controls and Economic Sanctions
Ms. Rathbone counsels clients in numerous countries on achieving their business goals while ensuring compliance with US export control and sanctions laws administered by the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury.  She has assisted clients in the manufacturing, telecommunications, banking, insurance, retail, and service industries, among others, in navigating the requirements of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and US sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  Her experience in this area includes assisting clients in resolving politically sensitive matters under the joint administration of various government agencies.  Ms. Rathbone has assisted clients in conducting internal investigations, preparing and filing voluntary disclosures and subpoena responses, drafting agreements that allow companies to provide non-US person employees with access to controlled technical information, undertaking product classification  reviews and preparing submissions for official classification determinations, and obtaining and complying with government licenses for the manufacture and production of technical products outside of the United States.  Ms. Rathbone regularly advises companies in navigating export controls and sanctions considerations in the context of mergers and acquisitions.  She currently serves as a vice chair of the ABA International Law Section’s Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee.

Anti-corruption and Money Laundering
Ms. Rathbone has advised multinational companies on compliance with anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and has conducted investigations and advised clients on responding to inquiries from Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  She has provided counseling on the money laundering and extraterritorial jurisdiction aspects of the USA Patriot Act.

Customs Compliance
Ms. Rathbone’s experience in Customs compliance includes assisting clients in responding to NAFTA verifications, as well as advising clients on tariff classifications.  She provides advice to companies on making country-of-origin assessments and on compliance with both Customs and Federal Trade Commission country-of-origin marking regulations.  Ms. Rathbone has advised clients on preparing voluntary disclosures of potential Customs violations, and assisted them in developing long-term Customs compliance strategies.

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws
Ms. Rathbone has assisted clients in litigating antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings before the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission.  As part of a team of Steptoe attorneys, she assisted a client in overturning the issuance of a US antidumping duty order before a bi-national NAFTA appellate panel.  She has also provided advice to clients on developing proactive strategies to avoid liability under international and domestic trade remedy laws.

Public International Law
Ms. Rathbone has advised clients on compliance with United Nations sanctions and arms embargoes, including UN Security Council resolutions restricting certain dealings with Iran and Somalia.  Ms. Rathbone has experience advising companies on the political and commercial effects of regime change and government succession as provided by international contracts law, customary international law, and the laws of war.  She is a published author in the field of foreign and international human rights law.

International Government Procurement
Ms. Rathbone has assisted companies in achieving their business goals by advising them on the eligibility of their products and technology for US military and civilian government procurement under the Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act.  She has also counseled clients on compliance with regulations relating to foreign government procurement.

University Affiliations
Ms. Rathbone has been an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, teaching courses in international and comparative law to both law students and undergraduates.  She has lived and studied in Finland, Russia, and Italy.

Select News & Events

• Webcast on Understanding OFAC Issues in 2012, November 16, 2011
• ITAR Compliance: Disclosures and Audits, Federal Publications Seminars, October 26, 2011
• Webcast on Nationality and the ITAR: Implementation Challenges and Opportunities in Canada and the US, October 19, 2011
• ITAR Compliance: Disclosure and Audits Course, Federal Publications Seminars, July 14, 2011
• Export Control Update 2011 Webinar, May 12, 2011
• Beware the Invisible Export Controls, May 4, 2011
• Steptoe Announces Promotion of 13 Lawyers
• International Trade Reporter Quotes Meredith Rathbone on Ambiguous Aspects of Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Law

Selected Publications

• New US Sanctions on the Government of Iran and Iranian Financial Institutions
  February 7, 2012
• EU Enhances Sanctions, Targeting Iranian Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Financial Sectors
  January 27, 2012
• DDTC Proposes Changes to ITAR Brokering Rules
  January 25, 2012, The Government Contractor
• Widening The Net Under Iran Sanctions Act
  January 23, 2012, Law360
• State Department Sanctions Three Entities under Iran Sanctions Act, Including First Chinese Company
  January 17, 2012
• OFAC Issues Transnational Criminal Organization Sanctions Regulations
  January 13, 2012
• New Iran Sanctions Threaten Foreign Banks’ Access to the United States, Impose Strict Measures on Financial System of Iran
  January 4, 2012
• DDTC Proposes New Brokering Rule
  January 3, 2012

More Publications »