Chief Counsel for Industry and Security

Chief Counsel for Industry and Security

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Office of the Secretary

Summary

The Chief Counsel for Industry and Security is responsible for providing legal services and counsel to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), including the Under Secretary, on all areas of Bureau responsibility. Some of these areas include: export control; anti-boycott laws and regulations; defense industrial base activities; national security advising; and foreign policy.

Duties

The incumbent is responsible for managing, implementing and directing the performance of legal work and activities, as outlined below, as well as related personnel, training, budgetary and information technology requirements:

Serves as the legal advisor to the Under Secretary for Industry and Security, the Assistant Secretaries, and Office Directors of the Bureau of Industry and Security concerning the interpretation and application of laws applicable to the Department of Commerce's responsibility for the control and licensing of exports;

Oversees Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCC/IS) representation of BIS in proceedings before administrative law judges to impose administrative and civil sanctions for export control or antiboycott violations and assists BIS in the referral of appropriate cases for potential criminal prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice;

Serves on BIS's Administrative Case Review Board, which is responsible for establishing charging and settlement parameters for BIS administrative enforcement cases;

Provides expert technical legal advice, particularly in connection with criminal export control prosecutions, to U.S. Department of Justice attorneys (including Assistant U.S. Attorneys) regarding laws, regulations and Executive Orders implemented by BIS;

Coordinates with legal offices of the Executive Office of the President and other Executive Branch departments on matters related to BIS's responsibilities;

Provides legal advice and assistance in connection with related bilateral and multilateral negotiations and technical exchanges pertaining to BIS's functions;

Coordinates with the Chief Counsels for International Commerce and Trade Enforcement and Compliance on all international trade-related legal matters that raise issues within their jurisdictions;