Former US Department of Justice attorney Jonathan C. Poling has joined Baker & McKenzie’s Washington, DC office as a partner, bolstering the Firm’s well-regarded trade compliance practice with significant experience in handling complex and international export control matters and trade-related investigations and prosecutions.
Most recently a trial attorney with the DOJ’s National Security Division, Counterespionage Section, Mr. Poling has prosecuted dozens of export control, counter proliferation and trade-related cases involving violations of the Arms Export Control Act, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and fraud and money laundering statutes, among other areas. He also worked with the DOJ’s National Export Coordinator and interacted with the licensing agencies and civil enforcement authorities on numerous trade matters.
At the DOJ, Mr. Poling prosecuted several high-profile export control enforcement cases, including US v. Balli Aviation, which involved the largest fine ever issued in a US Department of Commerce case, and US v. Urlich Davis, one of the first arrests and prosecution of employees of a freight forwarding company for violations of US export control laws. He also handled several substantial and high-profile investigations and prosecutions of financial institutions.
“Jonathan is a great addition to the practice,” said Miguel Noyola, Chair the Firm’s North American International Commercial Practice. “At a time of increasing focus on trade compliance, Jonathan offers unique insight into government enforcement proceedings, and his experience complements the group’s regional strength in export control compliance matters.”
Mr. Poling also worked extensively in training both US and non-US law enforcement agencies on export control enforcement efforts. In addition, he served on the DOJ’s Foreign Investment Review Staff, which participates on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States review process.
“Our clients are increasingly taking a holistic approach to compliance, and we are expanding our top-tier team in DC to advise companies facing a patchwork of global regulations and increased enforcement,” said Elizabeth Espin Stern, Managing Partner of the Firm’s Washington, DC office. “Jonathan is an excellent addition to our growing DC office.”
“The United States is now in a period of enhanced export control and economic sanctions enforcement impacting a wide array of companies engaged in international trade and trade finance,” said Mr. Poling. “I’m thrilled to join Baker & McKenzie’s leading trade compliance practice, and I look forward to helping clients implement effective compliance programs and address the rising tide of enforcement activity.”
Mr. Poling is the latest in a series of prominent lateral hires to join the Firm’s Washington, DC office. In recent months, compensation and benefits tax attorney Anne Batter and IP litigator Robert Parker joined the office. In addition, Josh Odintz, a former Senior Advisor for Tax Reform to the Assistant Secretary at the US Department of the Treasury; Mary Bennett, the former head of the Tax Treaty, Transfer Pricing & Financial Transactions Division of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Centre for Tax Policy & Administration; and IP lawyer Richard Wells joined the Washington, DC office during the last year.
