A member of the Transportation and Logistics Practice Group, Brent focuses his practice on International Trade, Government Contracts and Aviation matters.  He has significant experience in Export and Import Compliance, including export controls, FCPA and antiboycott matters.  He assists clients with the development of compliance programs, as well as auditing and improving existing programs.  He also has significant experience in Government Contracts and has assisted clients with protecting intellectual property rights when contracting with the government, bringing contract claims against the government and lodging protests.  Brent also assists clients with compliance issues stemming from the Berry Amendment, the Buy American Act, the Trade Agreements Act and the Buy American provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  His aviation experience focuses on U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration matters, as well as hazardous material issues.

Representative Experience
Advises U.S. and foreign manufacturers, producers, retailers, maritime companies and airlines on customs, export control, economic sanctions regulations and international trade matters, including anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations.

Assists clients on licensing, compliance, and self disclosure issues arising under the economic sanctions regulations and trade embargoes enforced by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) enforced by the Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) enforced by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). 

Brent has obtained licenses, mitigated penalties, and successfully developed and revised compliance programs to the satisfaction of executive agencies, avoiding debarment from government programs.  His experience also includes the classification of items to be exported, determining whether an item is controlled, and if so, whether a licensing requirement or licensing exception applies for the item, end user and destination at issue.  He addresses issues arising from the employment of foreign nationals and advises on how to avoid deemed exports.  Mr. Connor also assists clients with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Boycott matters.

Represents aviation clients before DOT and FAA in compliance matters, defending hazardous materials enforcement actions, requests for approvals, licenses and certificates, route proceedings, codeshare issues and other regulatory and administrative matters.

Assists government contractors with successful protests against contract awards and bringing claims under the Contract Disputes Act before the boards of contract appeals and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.  He also counsels contractors on all issues arising under government contracts, including the assignment of claims, the protection of technical data, and compliance with Berry Amendment and Buy American Act issues.

Advises U.S. and foreign transportation-related companies, manufacturers, service providers and other entities regarding legal and regulatory matters.  Represents parties in dealings with the federal government, including regulatory agencies and executive branch departments.  Represents parties in related litigation and appellate work.

Focuses on matters relating to government relations, aviation, maritime, international trade, and government contracts.

Presentations and Speaking Engagements
“Obama Administration Loosens Export Controls with the Addition of the Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) License Exception,” Troutman Sanders LLP Client Alert (June 30, 2011).

“U.S. Export Controls, Reform Policies and Trade with India,” presented at the Global Defense & Security Opportunities Seminar & Networking Event hosted by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) – International Trade (January 28, 2011).

“American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Buy American Requirements,” Energy Support in the Stimulus Bill, Troutman Sanders LLP Webinar, (March 5, 2009).

Export Tools and Techniques Seminar, Minnesota Department of Trade and Economics Development, June 2003.

Military Housing Privatization Workshop, National Association of Installation Developers 2002 Annual Conference, 2003 Annual Conference, 2004 Annual Conference 2003 Winter Forum, 2004 Winter Forum and 2005 Winter Forum.

Publications
Chapter entitled “Privatization of Military Support Services,” in book entitled “Privatizing Governmental Functions” American Lawyer Media, 2001 (presented with Keith Styles and Richard Nettler)