Wiley Rein Named ‘International Trade Group of the Year’ by Law360 for Eight Years Running

January 26, 2018

Washington, DC — Wiley Rein LLP has been named an “International Trade Group of the Year” by Law360 for the eighth year in a row, the only firm nationwide to achieve this honor. According to Law360, a diverse range of wins in 2017, from securing tariffs in one of the largest U.S. Department of Commerce investigations to successfully arguing the first Section 201 safeguards case in 15 years, helped Wiley Rein to once again secure a place on this prominent  list.

The firm’s International Trade Practice is unique, according to practice chair Alan H. Price, who noted that the Group’s blend of legal, policy, and public relations capabilities allows its lawyers to take “out of the box” approaches to trade issues for clients in a variety of U.S. manufacturing industries.

Wiley Rein was cited for its “multiple-tool approach” in its work on behalf of the domestic steel industry. The firm represented Nucor Corp. – the largest steel producer in the United States and a longtime client – in the largest set of Commerce Department investigations in more than a decade over corrosion-resistant steel, cold- and hot-rolled steel, wire rod, and plate steel tariffs.

The firm also represented Nucor and other steel industry clients in the Commerce Department’s Section 232 investigation into whether sharp increases in steel imports pose a national security threat. “We worked closely with our clients to develop a 232 solution that has the potential to solve the pervasive steel import crisis without having to file multiple new rounds of trade cases,” Mr. Price said.

In addition to securing victories for the steel industry last year, Wiley Rein also successfully argued on behalf of solar manufacturer SolarWorld Americas Inc. before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in August 2017. The ITC unanimously ruled that U.S. solar cell and panel manufacturers have been injured by Chinese imports, in the first safeguards investigation in 15 years. “I think this case will help pave the way for other industries that face similar kinds of trade problems,” said partner Timothy C. Brightbill, who served as lead counsel on the case.  

Wiley Rein’s International Trade Team was selected by a panel of Law360 editors, “with an eye toward landmark matters and general excellence.” In the practice group awards program’s eighth year, 80 law firms were recognized across 35 practice areas, and culled from 747 submissions. In addition to International Trade, the firm received a “Group of the Year” honor for its Government Contracts Practice.

To read the Law360 story, please click here.