As chair of Polsinelli’s International Trade and Customs practice, Michelle Schulz advises clients on a multitude of international trade and customs audits, government investigations and public policy matters. Michelle is a nationally recognized leader in her field, serving as a senior trade advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative on the Industry Trade advisory for Aerospace. She routinely advocates for exporters and importers in federal investigations, fines and penalties, audits, disclosures, export licensing and international trade. Michelle focuses exclusively on regulatory compliance and enforcement under U.S. law applicable to exports and imports.
Michelle regularly represents Fortune 500 manufacturers, distributors and defense contractors in a wide variety of industries including oil and gas, aerospace, electronics, and automotive. Her broad experience includes defense exports and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), dual-use exports and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), import duties and tariff reduction, Section 301 and 232 exclusions, e-commerce, exports in service, anti-boycott, anti-bribery, Buy America, Customs clearance, foreign investments and Committee on Foreign Trade Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), establishing and auditing Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs), free trade agreements, international contracts, sanctions and embargoes and trade data reporting to the U.S. Census Bureau (Census).
With respect to international deals such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) transactions, Michelle focuses exclusively on regulatory compliance and enforcement in international trade and Customs. For corporate, supply chain, and other aspects of international transactions, she partners with Polsinelli counsel focused on those areas.
Michelle also advises on compliance and enforcement matters under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). She is experienced in negotiations with enforcement officers and avidly works to limit risks and improve client compliance.
Michelle served on the President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration (PECSEA) under the last administration, serving six full years in this appointed position. She worked closely with the US Department of Commerce to reform the export laws and regulations to relax requirements for US companies that export. She is also the Past Chair of the International Law Section for the Texas State Bar (2017-18). Michelle is frequently called upon to present on international trade topics at professional conferences worldwide.