Overview
苏姗·埃瑟曼(Susan G. Esserman)是美国世强律师事务所(Steptoe & Johnson LLP)华盛顿总部的合伙人兼国际业务部主任。埃瑟曼大使为国内外客户提供关于拓展全球市场的法律和战略咨询服务,并代表客户处理国际贸易诉讼,解决争端。埃瑟曼大使曾在美国政府担任高级职务,是美对外贸易谈判者,也是许多反倾销、反补贴案的决策人,具有处理世界贸易组织(WTO)事务的独特经历。埃瑟曼女士的业务重点是美中贸易和美印贸易。
埃瑟曼女士曾担任美国贸易副代表,其重要性仅次于美贸易代表,拥有大使头衔。此外,她还曾在美贸易代表办公室和商务部担任三个高级职务。在担任美贸易副代表期间,埃瑟曼大使负责美国贸易政策和在 WTO 与欧洲、印度、俄罗斯、前苏联、非洲、中东的谈判。作为美贸易谈判代表办公室的法务部主任,她对制定美国在 WTO 关键性的早期争端解决诉讼策略方面发挥了主导作用。
埃瑟曼女士在担任主管进口的美助理商务部长期间,是数以百计的反倾销和反补贴案件的决策者。在职期间,在执行 WTO 乌拉圭回合协议、制定全面的反倾销和反补贴贸易法规的过程中,埃瑟曼女士发挥了领导作用,这些法规至今仍是处理美贸易案件的准则。她还曾管理美对外贸易区项目。在担任商务部代理法务部主任期间,她就一系列广泛议题向美商务部长和商务部其他领导提供建议,诸如:贸易法、规制改革、诉讼策略、行业道德、信息自由、国会审批和监管、知识产权以及政府采购等。
埃瑟曼女士经常就贸易法和贸易政策、WTO 事务、印度事务发表演讲和著述。她也活跃于各有关国际事务的非盈利机构之间。
在就职政府之前,埃瑟曼女士就已经是世强律师事务所的合伙人,负责国际贸易诉讼和国际贸易政策。
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hon. Judge Oliver Gasch, US District Court, District of Columbia
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude; Administrative Editor, Editorial Board, Michigan Law Review
- B.A., Wellesley College, with honors, Wellesley College Scholar
Speaking Engagements
- Keynote, US Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking, National Training Conference (January 2023)
- Opening Remarks and Moderator, Critical Updates in the Fight Against Human Trafficking: National and International, University of Maryland SAFE Center (January 2022)
- Opening Remarks, Human Trafficking Training for Law Enforcement, Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (December 2021)
- Global Human Sex Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Summit, Louisiana First Foundation and the State of Maryland (April 2021)
- "Hopes and Challenges in a Post-COVID Era", Higher Committee of Human Fraternity Women's Forum on International Women’s Day (March 2021)
- Moderator, "Recent Developments in Trafficking in the Latin American and Caribbean Region," International Association of Women Judges (July 2020)
- "From the Experts: Women Leading Efforts to End Human Trafficking," (with the Head of Israeli National Anti-Trafficking Unit), The Embassy of Israel and Jewish Women International (JWI) (June 2020)
- Keynote Speaker, "Partnering With Businesses to Combat Trafficking and Empower Survivors," Integrating Services for Trafficking Survivors, US Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC. (January 2020)
- "Human Trafficking In Our Backyard," Kojo Nnamdi Show, WAMU (Washington, DC NPR affiliate) (January 2020)
- Moderator, "Digital Trade Challenges: The View from Industry," Steptoe, Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT), and LGBT Professionals in International Trade (GATT), Washington, DC, December 3, 2019
- "A Conversation with Jeffrey Gerrish, Deputy US Trade Representative," US-India Strategic Partnership Forum 2nd Annual Leadership Summit, Washington, DC, July 11, 2019
- "Washington Trade Policy Update," Solar Energy Industries Association Federal & State Policy Summit, Washington, D.C. (Dec. 2018)
- Panelist, "US & India: From Estranged Democracies to Natural Allies: Acceleration of US-India Ties," Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C. (July 2018)
- Presider, "Power Profile Series on India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C. (October 2017)
- Keynote Speaker, "NAFTA: The Past, Present, and Future," Morgan Stanley NAFTA Investment Symposium, New York, NY (March 2017)
- Keynote Speaker, "Preparing for Trade Policy Changes in the Future," Massachusetts Export Expo, Boston, MA (December 2016)
News & Publications
Press Releases
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 Recognizes Steptoe's Top International Trade Practice and Lawyers
December 18, 2024
Press Releases
August 5, 2024
Press Releases
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 Recognizes Steptoe's Top International Trade Practice and Lawyers
December 20, 2023
Press Releases
August 9, 2023
Press Releases
Steptoe Receives 25 Practice, 72 Individual Mentions in Chambers USA 2023
June 1, 2023
Noteworthy
- Susan Esserman Featured as Local Hero by US Rep. Jamie Raskin (2023)
- Steptoe & Johnson John Nolan Award for Pro Bono Excellence (2022)
- Justice for Girls Empowerment Award, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a historic civil rights organization whose founding and longtime president was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2018)
- Am Law Litigation Daily's "Litigator of the Week" for leading a coalition that included PepsiCo and Reynolds Consumer Products to victory in a high-stakes trade fight at the ITC (2018)
- Who's Who Legal: Trade and Customs (2023-2024)
- Chambers Women in Law Awards: USA for Outstanding Contribution to Advancing Gender Diversity, Private Practice (2017)
- Chambers USA, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, Nationwide (2006 -2024) (Band 1, 2016 -2023)
- Chambers Asia-Pacific, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific Region (2009-2024) (Band 1)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, US (2006 -2023)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific (2018 -2023)
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC, International (2007-2011, 2014-2023)
- Best Lawyers in America, International Trade and Finance Law (2012-2023)
- BTI Client Service All-Stars List, International Trade (2016)
- National Law Journal, Nation's Outstanding Women Lawyers List, honoring 75 of the most highly accomplished women in the legal profession in the United States (2015)
- American Jewish Committee Judge Learned Hand Award (for dedication to the highest principles of the legal community and outstanding contributions to the community) (2013)
Previous Employment
- Deputy US Trade Representative, Office of US Trade Representative (Presidential Appointment and Senate Confirmation): Responsible for trade policy and negotiations with the WTO, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Africa
- General Counsel, Office of US Trade Representative
- Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Department of Commerce (Presidential Appointment and Senate Confirmation): Decision maker in antidumping and countervailing duty cases
- Acting General Counsel, Department of Commerce
Professional Affiliations
- Founder and Director, University of Maryland SAFE (Support, Advocacy, Freedom and Empowerment) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors
- Executive Committee and Board of Directors, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum
- Council on Foreign Relations
- Wellesley Business Leadership Council
- Co-Chair, Labor Trafficking Committee and Steering Committee, Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force
- Chair, Labor Trafficking Committee and Steering Committee, Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force
- Member of the Board of Managerial Trustees, International Association for Women Judges (association of approximately 4,600 women judges from over 80 countries that promotes human rights, women’s rights, equal justice, and the rule of law globally by training women judges and fostering cooperation and collaboration among women judges of all nations) (2007 – 2020)
- University of Miami Law School Visiting Committee (2014 – 2019)
- Board of Directors, Population Action International (research and advocacy to improve access to family planning and reproductive health care for women around the world) (2012 - 2014)
- India-US Track II Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy (Aspen Institute Program) (2010 – 2016)
- US Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy (2012 - 2014)
- Board of Directors, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2005 - 2013)
- University of Michigan Law School, International Advisory Board (2003-2014)