Deanna Okun is an international trade lawyer whose former experience as a US ITC Commissioner and Chair informs her legal and strategic international trade policy advice. She supports companies where innovation confronts barriers, such as intellectual property theft, unfair trade practices, or regulatory hurdles.

Deanna’s practice involves all aspects of unfair trade litigation and trade remedy advocacy. Her Section 337 work includes all stages of litigation at the ITC from pre-institution consultation to post-remedy enforcement with Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Her clients range from Fortune 500 companies protecting leading edge technologies to Small and Medium Enterprises confronting rampant infringement by foreign competitors. She also represents companies in Title VII antidumping and countervailing duty investigations before the ITC and Department of Commerce (DOC). Deanna’s work in trade remedy proceedings on behalf of U.S. companies extends to previously rarely used trade statutes, including Section 201, 232, and 301 investigations. Deanna participated in one of only two Section 201 investigations in the past twenty years, winning a successful remedy for her client. She works closely with contacts in the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the government to create innovative solutions to her clients’ legal and business challenges.

Deanna has extensive experience as a top administrator, regulator, enforcer, legislative aide and lawyer. She served two terms as Chairman during her twelve years of service as a member of the ITC. During her tenure as a Commissioner, she ruled on hundreds of cases involving allegations of patent, trademark and copyright infringement, antidumping and countervailing duty, global safeguard investigations under the Trade Act of 1974, including investigations under Section 201 and the China-specific safeguard investigations under Section 421. Prior to her appointment to the ITC, she served as counsel for international affairs to U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and senior member of the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees, and practiced international trade law with a large Washington, D.C.-based law firm.

In 2012, Deanna was named the Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Association of Women in International Trade, a chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade. In 2022, for the tenth consecutive year, Managing Intellectual Property named Deanna one of the Top 250 Women in IP. Deanna is also on the 2022-2023 USMCA Binational Panel Roster.

Education

  • Duke University School of Law (J.D., with honors)
    • Alaska Law Review, Executive Editor
  • Utah State University (B.A., magna cum laude)

    Bar Admission

    • District of Columbia

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Intellectual Property Law Association
    • American Bar Association
    • American Conference Institute’s Annual Expert Forum on ITC Litigation and Enforcement (Advisory Board)
    • Customs and International Trade Bar Association (Board of Directors and 2022-2023 Treasurer)
    • Federal Circuit Bar Association
    • ITC Trial Lawyers Association
    • Georgetown Law International Trade Update (Advisory Board)
    • Trade Policy Forum
    • Washington International Trade Association
    • The Association of Women in International Trade
    • 2024-2025 Roster for USMCA Binational Panels (U.S.), roster member since 2019

    Recognition

    • Named "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation, 2025-2026
    • Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® for:
      • Litigation - Patent, 2026
      • International Trade and Finance Law, 2025-2026
    • Selected for inclusion in the IAM Patent 1000 list of the World's Leading Patent Practitioners, 2024-2025, D.C. Metro Area - Recommended - Bronze Litigation
    • Selected for inclusion in Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, 2024
    • Federal Circuit Bar Association President's Award Recipient, 2023
    • Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars – Patent Star and Trademark Star, 2022, 2024-2025
    • Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars – Top 250 Women in IP, 2022
    • Ranked in Chambers Global: World’s Leading Lawyers, International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337), Nationwide, 2025-2026
    • Ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337), Nationwide, 2006-2025
    • The Legal 500, Intellectual Property: Patents: Litigation (International Trade Commission), 2022
    • The Legal 500 Hall of Fame Intellectual Property: Patents Litigation (International Trade Commission), 2022
    • Patexia, Top 10 – Most Active ITC Section 337 Attorney, 2022
    • Patexia, Top 10 – Best Performing ITC Section 337 Attorney, 2022
    • Super Lawyers, 2022
    Publications
    U.S. Court of International Trade Invalidates Trump Section 122 Global Tariffs, the Administration Appeals, and Tariffs Likely Will Remain in Effect for Most Importers
    Key Takeaways The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) invalidated President Trump’s Section 122 10% tariffs, holding that the Administration exceeded the authority delegated by Congress under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The Administration has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The CIT’s injunction is limited. The court granted relief only to the plaintiffs – the State of Washington, Burlap & Barrel and Basic Fun! – and declined to issue nationwide relief. The tariffs remain in place for most importers pending appeal, and continue to apply broadly unless additional importers seek and obtain relief. The decision increases pressure on the Administration to pivot to alternative statutory authorities, including Section 301 and Section 232, for
    Read More
    IEEPA Refund Portal Opens on April 20: What Importers Should Know About Filing, Timing and Liquidity Options
    Key Takeaways U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will launch Phase 1 of CAPE on April 20, giving many importers their first access to the ACE-based path to request IEEPA duty refunds. More complicated entries – including those involving certain AD/CVD orders, protests, drawback, reconciliation and liquidated entries that are more than 80 days past liquidation – remain outside Phase 1 or will follow a different timeline. Importers and brokers should act now to confirm ACE portal access, ACH/electronic refund enrollment, U.S. bank account information and entry eligibility before submitting CAPE declarations. CBP also has made clear that filers may not initiate an IEEPA refund request through a Post Summary Correction (PSC). Timing of refund declaration processing will vary. For many standard accepted entries, CBP
    Read More