Seth Stodder, a former U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assistant secretary for border, immigration and trade policy and assistant secretary for threat prevention and security, has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He will represent clients on a wide variety of matters, including transactions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), international trade and customs issues, immigration and visas, cybersecurity and data privacy, government investigations and national/homeland security.
While serving in two consecutive assistant secretary posts at DHS during the Obama administration, Mr. Stodder headed the team evaluating foreign investments for CFIUS and the Federal Communication Commission’s “Team Telecom” and represented DHS on the CFIUS committee. In addition to foreign investment security, he oversaw all trade issues for DHS, including trade policy, customs issues, e-commerce, supply chain security, trade agreement negotiations, transportation security, and import and export control, as well as border security, immigration policy and law enforcement. He also oversaw the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, co-chaired the DHS task force on the use of social media for national security vetting, and led DHS diplomatic engagements with Western Hemisphere countries, including Cuba and Mexico, as well as various other countries around the world.
Mr. Stodder also served in the Bush administration as head of policy for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the wake of the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. He was centrally involved in the development of key border, supply chain and cargo security efforts, including the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), the Container Security Initiative (CSI), the National Targeting Center (NTC), and diplomatic engagements with Canada and Mexico.
“Seth brings a wealth of experience in international trade and a stellar reputation in Washington to the firm,” said Ron Oleynik, the head of Holland & Knight’s International Trade Practice. “His CFIUS experience adds significant capabilities to our team in this growing area, and his high-level contacts within the CFIUS review process will be of particular value to our clients with deals under consideration by the committee.”
“Given the current administration’s intense focus on international trade, importers and exporters alike are facing a number of possible challenges as the country’s trade policies are under review and likely subject to change,” said Mr. Stodder. “I look forward to helping Holland & Knight’s clients navigate this shifting landscape and resolve trade issues as they arise.”
Since leaving government, Mr. Stodder has served as president and CEO of Palindrome Strategies, a consulting firm which he founded, while teaching national security law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
Mr. Stodder received a J.D. degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and a B.A. degree from Haverford College.
Source: www.hklaw.com
