Global Supply Chain Counsel

Steptoe's cross-practice supply chain team helps clients build effective legal, policy, and advocacy strategies to manage the full range of supply chain issues that can arise in an increasingly complex and turbulent global business environment.

This includes working with companies, associations, and coalitions to ensure compliance with supply chain-related measures (e.g., Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues), develop and execute holistic supply chain legal strategies, as well as advocate with governments regarding legislation, regulations, and policies that could impact their supply chains.

Here are a few ways Steptoe can assist clients with their supply chain needs:

Conduct due diligence assessments of corporate supply chains, and provide advice on how to reduce risk, and improve security, sustainability, and resilience.
Assist in accessing grants, loans, tax credits, and domestic content preferences that may be available at the US federal and state levels (e.g., CHIPS Act, Inflation Reduction Act, EDA Tech Hubs, DPA Title III) for constructing new, or expanding existing facilities.
Counsel companies on compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and other anti-forced labor measures, including providing legal analysis of relevant provisions; conducting "deep dive" supply chain due diligence; advising on sourcing strategies, supplier guidance, mandatory and voluntary disclosures, corporate communications, and meetings with regulators; and monitoring relevant global developments.
Analyze corporate supply chains to minimize liability for customs duties and carbon border tariffs.
Provide counsel and advocacy support for clients with an interest in supply chain-related legislation (e.g., ports and maritime, trucking), as well as regulations issued by the Federal Maritime Commission.
Advocate with the US Administration and Congress regarding border measures, tax credits, changes to procurement policy, climate measures, and standards that impact corporate supply chains.

Given the multifaceted and dynamic nature of supply chain issues, Steptoe addresses client needs with a cross-practice and multijurisdictional team working across legal and policy areas, industries (e.g., food and agriculture, autos, textiles and apparel, batteries, chemicals, renewable energy, semiconductors, and critical minerals), and jurisdictions to holistically advise on the ever-changing business landscape.

To learn more about our practice-specific capabilities, read our Supply Chain Brochure.

Representative Matters

On behalf of companies, coalitions and associations in several sectors, including batteries, chemicals, renewable energy, semiconductors, food and agriculture, and critical minerals, helped develop and execute legal, policy, and advocacy strategies for building, rebuilding, or safeguarding US supply chains.
Assisting companies in applying for federal funding under the CHIPS program, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Tech Hubs program, and Title III of the Defense Production Act, as well as supporting advocacy.
Provided a Fortune 50 company with a trade and climate analysis of four countries to enable the client to select the optimal suppliers for its steel and aluminum needs from a carbon border measure perspective. The analysis covered Paris Agreement commitments, current and projected climate-related regulatory regimes, the carbon intensity of steel and aluminum production processes, and geopolitical factors.
Provided a large foreign manufacturer with a comparative tariff and rules of origin analysis of multiple supply chain scenarios, in order to help the manufacturer select the optimal supply chain to minimize duty liability.
Lead a coalition of associations, seaports, tech companies, carriers, and others in support of creating international standards and frameworks to increase transparency and interoperability in the supply chain.
Provide counsel, strategic advice, and advocacy assistance to a food and agricultural trade association on improving the movement of cargo throughout the United States and to export markets. This includes making connections with potential partners at major seaports and liner shipping companies in order to improve freight movement.
Advise a multinational chemical company regarding Chinese market access impediments blocking its ability to export US goods to China and related trade litigation matters. Our support includes assisting the company on a broad range of trade-related manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement initiatives.