Heller Ehrman Adds Leading International Trade Team in Washington, D.C.

Four Shareholders Boost Firm’s D.C. Presence, Complement Existing ITC/Section 337 Practice, And Strengthen Connection to Asia

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) April 21, 2008 – Heller Ehrman LLP, an international law firm with 650 attorneys and professionals in 14 offices worldwide, announced that it has added a high-profile international trade team to the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. The four lawyers joining Heller Ehrman’s Antitrust & Trade Regulation practice group as shareholders – William H. Barringer, Daniel L. Porter, James P. Durling and Christopher Dunn – were partners in the Washington, D.C. office of Vinson & Elkins.  Joining the shareholders in Washington, D.C. from Vinson & Elkins are associates Valerie Ellis and Matthew McCullough.  Yu Li also joined as an associate in Heller Ehrman’s Beijing office.

The team has extensive experience defending foreign corporations in antidumping, countervailing duty and other trade remedy investigations. They also advise governments and businesses on international trade negotiations and trade policy disputes. The addition complements Heller Ehrman’s existing ITC/Section 337 and trade regulatory practices and strengthens the firm’s connection to Asia, where global market activity is generating increasing international trade issues and controversies. 

Barringer, Porter, Durling and Dunn have practiced together for nearly 23 years. They joined Vinson & Elkins in 2006, prior to which they practiced at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher for more than 20 years. All four lawyers are listed in Chambers USA as leading lawyers in international trade law. 

The firm’s international trade team addition comes as the number of antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) cases filed has recently increased. In 2007, 37 new AD/CVD investigations were initiated, compared to just eight investigations initiated in 2006. The current economic downturn is expected to increase AD/CVD filings further as companies attempt to combat unfair trade with the full arsenal of remedies.

The international trade team augments Heller Ehrman’s highly regarded existing ITC/Section 337 practice. Under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the ITC investigates claims of unfair trade practices occurring in import trade. The ITC has become a global forum for intellectual property disputes, especially patent cases, which are brought by both U.S. and foreign companies intent on protecting U.S.-based IP rights. An increasing percentage of ITC disputes involve Asia-based companies. Since 2004, over 40 percent of the 337 cases filed before the ITC have involved parties in either China or Taiwan, or both.

“Heller Ehrman is an ideal fit for this high-end international trade practice team and we expect that their primary focus will be on representing Asian and other international companies,” said Geoffrey F. Aronow, managing shareholder of Heller Ehrman’s Washington, D.C. office. “With this addition, we cover a large portion of the international trade front. We have had a talented, fast-growing Section 337 practice, as well as Customs, Export Control, CFIUS and FCPA expertise. Now, we have a team that can help domestic and international clients who need assistance with regard to other available trade remedies. We will continue to look for opportunities to expand our capabilities for handling the needs of both domestic and international clients whose cross-border activities raise issues for them at federal government agencies and in the courts of the United States.”

In January 2008, Heller Ehrman opened an office in Shanghai, strengthening the firm’s presence in the region.  Heller Ehrman has more than 30 attorneys in Asia. Prior to opening in Shanghai, Heller Ehrman established a Beijing office in 2004, a Singapore office in 1994 and a Hong Kong office in 1993. Nick Seddon, who led the expansion of DLA Piper’s practice in Asia, will join Heller Ehrman in mid-May as the firm’s Regional Managing Shareholder for Asia.

Brief Shareholder Biographies

William H. Barringer has been the lead counsel in more than 50 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, more than a dozen “safeguards” investigations, and numerous investigations under Section 301 of U.S. trade law.  He has been involved in some of the most significant international trade disputes over the last several decades involving many countries, including disputes between the U.S. and Japan relating to automobiles, film and steel.  Barringer earned an A.B. from Brown University in 1970, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973 and an LL.M. from Georgetown in 1976.

Daniel L. Porter has developed particular expertise representing foreign exporters in antidumping and countervailing duty (anti-subsidy) proceedings.  In these cases, he has represented clients in a wide variety of industries such as steel products, semiconductors, consumer goods, and agricultural products from various countries, including China.  He has significant experience in preparing defenses for ITC injury proceedings and minimizing the dumping margin in Commerce Department proceedings.  Porter earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1982 and a J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1985.

James P. Durling has worked with clients on a wide range of high-profile trade policy disputes, including trade policy battles over automobiles, semiconductors, and color film, and has been actively involved in related World Trade Organization proceedings.  His recent major matters include defending foreign steel companies in dumping and safeguard actions, and prosecuting several World Trade Organization challenges to U.S. trade remedies.  Durling earned a B.A. from Haverford College in 1980, a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1984 and an M.P.A. from Princeton University in 1984.

Christopher Dunn has worked with clients in antidumping, subsidies and safeguards cases, as well as customs matters.  He has significant experience in actions before the WTO.  He has worked with clients on a wide range of high-profile, trade policy disputes, including trade policy battles over automobiles, semiconductors, and color film.  He also has played a key role in the WTO proceedings arising out of these disputes.  Dunn earned an A.B. from Brown University in 1972 and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1975.

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