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Alexander Koff

Venable LLP

Alexander W. Koff focuses on international and cross-border issues and serves as general counsel to U.S. companies and foreign subsidiaries in the United States. He focuses his corporate practice on complex business transactions, regulatory matters, and arbitration and litigation.

His international practice focuses on trade, trade policy, and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. He serves as special counsel to other attorneys on international issues. His work spans most of the world, including Asia, Europe, and South America, and his clients range from entrepreneurs to large, publicly traded corporations.

Alex advises governments and foreign sovereigns on the implementation and enforcement of international obligations. Preferring long-term client relationships where he helps to identify legal solutions and strategies to drive revenue, Alex acts as general counsel to public and private companies and entrepreneurs.

In addition, he assists with all steps, from corporate formation through sale of the company. Although he works seamlessly across many industry verticals, Alex represents quite a few clients in the food and beverage industry.

Drawing on his experience at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Alex advises companies, trade associations, and governments on the use of treaty-based trade and investment rules to open markets and resolve disputes, including both international commercial arbitration and investor-state disputes.

His has litigated dispute settlement and international arbitration cases pursuant to the rules of, among others, the WTO, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

Alex has extensive experience advising clients concerning international trade and export compliance issues, including antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguards investigations; the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); the Export Administration Regulations (EAR); the sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) concerning U.S. anti-bribery rules; and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Alex resided in Vietnam as legal advisor to a U.S.-funded grant helping implement the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, from January to December 2000. Prior government and NGO experience includes working in the legal offices of the U.S. National Security Council (in Washington, DC), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (in Geneva, Switzerland), the U.S. Agency for International Development (in Washington, DC), and the United Nations (in New York). Prior to law school, his government experience included working at the U.S. Department of State (in Washington, DC).

Experience :

  • Member, U.S. delegation to the World Trade Organization
  • Represents as general counsel the largest importer and #1 selling brand of olive oil and gourmet vinegars in the United States; led team in various legal issues involving the company. Client: “Alex has been an amazing resource to the Company and me over the years. He really sets himself apart from other attorneys I’ve worked with by being incredibly responsive and available when we need him. In addition, he has a tireless drive that allows him to meet any deadline that we throw his way.” Michael Silén, CFO of Pompeian, Inc.
  • Represents as U.S. general counsel the second-largest money services business in the United States; assisted with bet-the-company banking issue. Client: “Alex’s persistence, professionalism, positivity has pulled through and it has been an absolute joy having him on our side. He is bloody marvelous!” Koko Sarkari, CEO of Lenlyn d/b/a International Currency Exchange
  • Represents as general counsel a well-known U.S. skin cream company, Egyptian Magic Skin Cream
  • Represents start-up servicing brand names on internet intellectual property channel-clean up issues
  • Represented as general counsel a U.S. subsidiary of a $14 billion publicly traded Japanese corporation involved in technology and digital imaging solutions
  • Serves as worldwide IP counsel for an open-source Content Management System (CMS), estimated to run 2.7% of the Internet
  • Represented a Canadian company in a $970 million NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state arbitration concerning fuel additive for the energy sector
  • Represented the United States in the first case to reach the WTO appellate body; brought by Brazil and Venezuela, the case concerned measures affecting the sale of reformulated gasoline in the United States.
  • Represented a pharmaceutical company as complainant in a trade secret investigation against Indian and Austrian companies brought under 19 U.S.C. 1337 (Section 337)
  • Represents an $8 billion Indian multinational corporation that provides information technology, consulting, and business process services on U.S. compliance issue.

Education :

  • J.D.University of Michigan Law School1996
  • M. Phil.International RelationsCambridge University1993
  • B.A.University of Michigan1992

Bar Admissions : District of Columbia 1997, Maryland 2005.

Court Admissions :

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Professional Memberships :

  • Former chair, Maryland/Washington, DC, District Export Council (U.S. Secretary of Commerce appointment to DEC and elected chair by peers)
  • Elected at-large member, executive committee, International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association (ICT TLA), 2014-2016; also served as the committee’s membership chair for many years
  • Research associate, Creative and Innovative Economy Center, George Washington University Law School
  • Adjunct professor, international law, University of Baltimore School of Law.

Community :

  • Representing indigent client in real estate transaction and negotiations regarding same, 2019
  • Represented nonprofit religious organization in negotiation of corporate documents with media conglomerate to facilitate ongoing speaker series at their facility, 2018
  • Represented indigent client serving nonprofit community in intellectual property dispute and assisted in negotiation of a trademark co-existence agreement, 2017
  • Member, advisory board, Jhpiego, a nonprofit international health organization operating in more than 155 countries, dedicated to improving the health of women and families in developing countries, 2012 – 2016
  • Former appointed member, Governor’s International Advisory Council, providing strategic direction on ways to enhance Maryland’s global profile, 2013 – 2015
  • New York City Marathon and Marine Corps Marathon (twice), pre-2000, back when there was a spring in my step
  • Swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco, 2015

Cost

Rate : $$$

What types of cases Attorney Alexander Koff & Venable LLP can handle?
Venable LLP can handle cases related to laws concerning Corporate, Copyright Application, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property, Franchising, International Law. We manually verify each attorney’s practice areas before approving their profiles and reviews on our website.
Where is Venable LLP located?
Venable LLP is located at 750 E Pratt St #900, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA. You can reach out to Venable LLP using their phone line 202.344.4000. You can also check their website venable.com or email them at akoff@Venable.com.
How much would it cost to hire Venable LLP?
Alexander Koff lawyer charges are specific to each case. However, they work with contingency fees and its ranges from $$ to $$$. They also provide free consultation [and no obligation quotes] if you are interested to hire.
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Venable LLP
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