Firm Adds Three Attorneys, One Paralegal in Washington, D.C.
Three attorneys and one paralegal have joined Husch Blackwell’s Washington, D.C., office: Partner Jeffrey S. Neeley, Senior Counsel Cortney O’Toole Morgan, Senior Counsel Michael S. Holton, and Paralegal Marianne E. Spencer. They are the latest additions to the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation group and bring extensive experience assisting foreign and domestic clients with International and Trade law matters.
“Husch Blackwell’s clients will benefit greatly from the addition of high-quality international trade lawyers like Jeff, Cortney and Michael to our team,” said Joe Orlet, leader of the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation team. “As the world grows smaller, international commerce continues to increase. These welcome additions, with their depth of industry experience, help to ensure we are serving clients’ international trade needs now and into the future.”
Neeley, Morgan and Holton previously practiced with the global trade law boutique firm Barnes, Richardson & Colburn LLP in Washington, D.C., and Spencer served as a paralegal there as well.
While at Barnes Richardson, Neeley counseled and defended clients worldwide on matters including antidumping, countervailing duties, subsidies, intellectual property issues and related World Trade Organization issues. Neeley has represented private companies in trade remedies cases, working at boutique and AmLaw 200 firms for more than 30 years. After receiving his law degree, Neeley first worked as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel for the U.S. International Trade Commission, where he handled antidumping, subsidies and intellectual property cases under section 337 of the Trade Act, and defended the agency in appellate litigation. Since leaving the ITC, he has been in private practice and involved in complex cases involving trade disputes, including those arising between the overlap of customs and antidumping law.
Neeley received his J.D., cum laude, from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. (1979). He received his B.A. in History and Political Science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (1975).
Morgan has practiced with Barnes Richardson since receiving her law degree (2001-2014). In her global practice, she advises foreign and domestic companies on all aspects of international trade regulation and supply chain management. Her practice includes counseling, administrative proceedings, litigation and legislative activities. Morgan has significant expertise in the development of import/export compliance programs for major multinational companies, obtaining necessary licenses and permits from various government agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of State and Office of Foreign Assets Control. Her clients transect a wide range of industries including automotive, chemical, consumer electronics, food products, information technology, pharmaceutical, steel, textile and apparel.
Morgan received her J.D. from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. (2001), where she was Lead Articles Editor of CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy. Prior to law school, Morgan worked as a legal assistant at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (1996-1998). She received her B.A. in International Relations focusing on Asia and Foreign Economic Policy from American University in Washington, D.C. (1996).
Holton’s career has centered on all aspects of international trade, most recently at Barnes Richardson (2009-2014), and prior at the AmLaw 100 firm Greenberg Traurig (2008-2009), where he was a member of the global trade and investment group. Initially upon receiving his law degree, Holton spent several years serving as a senior staff member in the U.S. Department of Commerce (2002-2008), in the Office of China/Non-Market Economy Compliance and the Office of AD/CVD Enforcement. While there, Holton worked on numerous antidumping investigations and proceedings, handled trade remedy matters for multiple countries, and drafted the exclusionary language for the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule Annex.
Holton received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio (2001), where he served in editorial positions for the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. He received his B.S. from the University of Utah (1998).
Spencer previously served as a senior paralegal and trade specialist with Barnes Richardson (2012-2014). She received her B.A. in International Affairs, magna cum laude, from the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs (2012).
Clients rely on Husch Blackwell’s Technology, Manufacturing & Technology team of more than 100 multidisciplinary attorneys to handle industry-specific challenges head-on. Husch Blackwell’s International practice group provides clients with comprehensive legal services and expertise for all aspects of their cross-border pursuits, incorporating Customs & Trade guidance for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, technology companies and foreign suppliers engaged in the import and export of goods, technology and services.