Pathways To Opportunity: Careers in International Trade & Law
On Monday, March 17, WITA hosted its WITA Academy Pathways to Opportunity – Trade & Law program which provides a series of career pathways sessions focused on trade law, led by professionals from the Washington D.C. trade policy community. The curriculum, divided between public and private sector perspectives, showcases the diverse roles and career paths available for international trade and law in Washington D.C. and around the globe.
Students will gained insights from trade law experts, engage with policymakers and legal practitioners, and explore career opportunities in international trade law from government, companies, industry associations, law firms, and consulting. This program offered participants a unique perspective on the wide-ranging career paths available in the trade law and policy community, creating connections with key players across both the public and private sectors.
This online event was free and open to ALL students. Hosted in partnership with the University of Georgia School of Law.
Registration was free for students and faculty from all universities and colleges – must use university email to register.
AGENDA
All times US/Eastern
12:00 PM – 12:05 PM ET: Welcome & Introduction
- Diego Añez, Executive Director, WITA Academy; Managing Director, Washington International Trade Association (B.A. The University of Georgia)
- Kenneth I. Levinson, Chief Executive Officer, Washington International Trade Association (B.A. University of Massachusetts; M.A. New York University)
- Nancy Fischer, Global Head of Regulatory Practices, International Trade Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (B.B.A The University of Georgia; J.D. Syracuse University College of Law)
- Eric Heath, Senior Attorney Advisor, U.S. International Trade Commission (B.A. Lipscomb University; J.D. University of Georgia School of Law, LL.M. University of Edinburgh Law School)
- Tina Termei, Director & Associate General Counsel, Amazon | Global Trade, Transportation, Logistics, & Supply Chain (B.A. Emory University; J.D. The University of Georgia)
- Moderator: Desirée LeClercq, Assistant Professor, Faculty Co-Director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center, University of Georgia School of Law
12:50 PM ET Conclusion
- Diego Añez, Executive Director, WITA Academy; Managing Director, Washington International Trade Association (B.A. The University of Georgia)
Speaker Biographies
Nancy Fischer is the Global Head of Regulatory Practices, International Trade Partner at Pillsbury law.
Nancy advises a global clientele on international trade matters and dispute resolution and the impact of U.S. regulations on worldwide trade and investments. She provides guidance on export controls, economic sanctions, CFIUS reviews, FCPA and other anti-bribery laws, trade remedies, customs, including supply chain, domestic content and U.S. government funding matters. Nancy has represented large industry coalitions in disputes, including a group of nuclear utilities in the first antidumping matter before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Eric Heath is a Senior Attorney Advisor in the Front Office of Operations at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Eric has also served in the Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements and the Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis during his time with the Commission.
In his personal capacity, he is a member of the Board of Governors for the Washington Foreign Law Society. Eric previously worked as a Senior Policy Counsel for the Northeast Midwest Institute and as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds an LL.M. in International Economic Law from the University of Edinburgh, a J.D. from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in Law, Justice, and Society from Lipscomb University.
Tina Termei is the Associate General Counsel at Amazon and leads Amazon Web Service’s (AWS) legal division for global trade and worldwide transportation, logistics, and supply chain. Within global trade, she is responsible for all international trade matters, including export controls, sanctions, Customs and import, and antiboycott matters.
Prior to joining Amazon, she was an Associate in ArentFox Schiff’s International Trade group in Washington, D.C. Tina is also a former Attorney Advisor for U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Office of International Trade, Regulations and Rulings, where she authored rulings on various areas of international trade. Tina’s trade experience also includes serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Leo M. Gordon at the U.S. Court of International Trade. She holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Emory University and her J.D. cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law.
Desirée LeClercq is an Assistant Professor, Faculty Co-Director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center at the University of Georgia School of Law. She teaches International Trade and Workers Rights, International Labor Law, International Law and U.S. Labor Law.
LeClercq comes to UGA from Cornell University, where she was an assistant professor in the School of Industrial Labor Relations and an associate faculty member in the Law School for four years. She won the 2020 MacIntyre Award for Exemplary Teaching & Advising and the 2022 Women’s Leadership Initiative Leading Ladies Award.
Specializing in international and labor law, LeClercq has recently published extensively in flagship and specialty law reviews, including the Fordham Law Review, the Virginia Journal of International Law, the Journal of International Economic Law, the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, the Administrative Law Review, the American University Law Review and the Berkeley Journal of International Law. Notably, her Columbia Journal of Transnational Law article titled “A Worker Centered Trade Policy” won the ComplianceNet Outstanding Junior Publication Award. LeClercq has also contributed several book chapters on international trade and labor, and she is a frequent contributor to Fortune.
Previously she served as a director of labor affairs in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from 2016 to 2020, during which time she was an adjunct professor at the American University Washington College of Law. Additionally, LeClercq worked for nearly a decade as a legal officer at the International Labor Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and served as staff counsel for the chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.
LeClercq is active in the American Society of International Law and serves on the Executive Committee of the AALS Human Rights and Labor Relations and Employment Law sections. Also, since 2022, she has served as a designated candidate to chair European Union Trade and Sustainable Expert Panel Proceedings.
She earned her B. A. with high honors from Indiana University and her J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas, where she was the articles and notes editor for the Texas International Law Journal.
Spring Semester Host:
For questions about the event, please contact the WITA Staff events@wita.org.
To become a Law Partner sponsor or to learn more about other sponsorship opportunities, please click here or email Diego Añez danez@wita.org.
About The International Trade & Law Series
The WITA Academy has launched a new Pathways to Opportunity Program on Careers in International Trade & Law. Law students and undergraduates will hear from law firms and trade professionals about career opportunities in international trade and law.
WITA Academy Pathways programs seek to bring the best and brightest, next generation workforce into the trade policy community – diversifying its network of professionals with new talent that may not have previously sought careers in international trade.
This new initiative features both virtual and in-person events in Washington, DC, with sessions on public and private sector career pathways. The series is geared towards pre-law and law students. Virtual events will be announced in the weeks to come.
All programs are free to attend for interested students.
The mission of the WITA Academy™ is to make trade education and career opportunities in international trade accessible to communities in the United States and around the world, and to make the trade community itself more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
The WITA Academy works with trade leaders in businesses, law, academia, NGOs, embassies and the U.S. Government to help stakeholders, students, and others to better understand and navigate the U.S. and global trade policy apparatus.
Thank you to our WITA Academy Sponsors
