Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

International Government Affairs

Overview
Experience
People
Honors

With a clear and consistent focus on business interests, Kelley Drye attorneys and professionals offer clients over 30 years of experience with the negotiation and implementation of international treaties, conventions and agreements under the auspices of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Animal Health Organization and other bodies.

We create strategies and support client engagement, or represent client interests at the international level in multilateral processes. Our aim is to anticipate and successfully influence the development of international laws and policies to preserve our clients’ freedom to operate, advance business interests, and capitalize on opportunities to showcase leadership and innovation. Our work includes follow-up to ensure that international obligations and commitments are implemented in an effective and workable manner at the domestic level in countries of commercial and/or strategic interest.

Representing a wide variety of industrial and agricultural interests in multilateral negotiations including the Uruguay Round and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Doha Round negotiations, and negotiation of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the U.S.-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Representing the worldwide chocolate and cocoa industry in connection with its efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in its supply chain.

Analyzing and drafting comments concerning draft legislation, guidance and policies regarding biotechnology and biosafety laws of more than 40 countries for consistency with applicable international obligations, workability and effectiveness.

Identifying impacts and protecting client’s business interests under the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Aarhus Convention on Access to Environmental Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice, and its Supplementary Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

Leading a coalition of major U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies to achieve the exclusion of human pharmaceuticals from the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and appropriate treatment of confidential business information.

Representing companies and trade associations to revise existing resolutions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) to encourage the adoption of more practical solutions to the international movement of endangered species for commercial activity, education, captive breeding and/or other conservation purposes.

Providing information, advice and advocacy, including communication with the U.S. Congress, for a major U.S. energy company with respect to legal and political issues under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol to promote broader consideration of the relevant economic, trade and equity issues.

Providing advice, outreach materials and strategic direction to avoid inappropriate restriction at the international level of innovative agricultural technologies.

Assisting with stakeholder engagement on biotechnology and biosafety, including through strategic participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and other international fora.

Developing "model laws" to assist countries with implementing their obligations under the Cartagena Protocol and Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress.

Participating in outreach to WTO officials and national representations in Geneva to increase understanding of trade implications of various proposals under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Advising a sovereign State on issues related to the EU list of banned air carriers, and assisting in talks with the European Commission.

Advising an international insurance company on the applicability of certain international conventions offering tax benefits.

Advising an internet service provider concerning the interpretation and application of international conventions on jurisdiction and mutual legal assistance treaties.

Overview

Experience

Representing a wide variety of industrial and agricultural interests in multilateral negotiations including the Uruguay Round and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Doha Round negotiations, and negotiation of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the U.S.-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Representing the worldwide chocolate and cocoa industry in connection with its efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in its supply chain.

Analyzing and drafting comments concerning draft legislation, guidance and policies regarding biotechnology and biosafety laws of more than 40 countries for consistency with applicable international obligations, workability and effectiveness.

Identifying impacts and protecting client’s business interests under the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Aarhus Convention on Access to Environmental Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice, and its Supplementary Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

Leading a coalition of major U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies to achieve the exclusion of human pharmaceuticals from the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and appropriate treatment of confidential business information.

Representing companies and trade associations to revise existing resolutions under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) to encourage the adoption of more practical solutions to the international movement of endangered species for commercial activity, education, captive breeding and/or other conservation purposes.

Providing information, advice and advocacy, including communication with the U.S. Congress, for a major U.S. energy company with respect to legal and political issues under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol to promote broader consideration of the relevant economic, trade and equity issues.

Providing advice, outreach materials and strategic direction to avoid inappropriate restriction at the international level of innovative agricultural technologies.

Assisting with stakeholder engagement on biotechnology and biosafety, including through strategic participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and other international fora.

Developing "model laws" to assist countries with implementing their obligations under the Cartagena Protocol and Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress.

Participating in outreach to WTO officials and national representations in Geneva to increase understanding of trade implications of various proposals under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Advising a sovereign State on issues related to the EU list of banned air carriers, and assisting in talks with the European Commission.

Advising an international insurance company on the applicability of certain international conventions offering tax benefits.

Advising an internet service provider concerning the interpretation and application of international conventions on jurisdiction and mutual legal assistance treaties.

People

Honors

LAURA VAN DER MEER

Partner

Email +(32)(2) 899-2931+(32)(2) 899-2931

Laura van der Meer is the managing partner of Kelley Drye’s Brussels office. Laura is dedicated to assisting her clients in understanding and navigating complex international and E...

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PAUL C. ROSENTHAL

Partner

Email (202) 342-8485(202) 342-8485

Paul Rosenthal co-chairs the firm’s Government Relations and Public Policy practice. Paul is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and previously served as managing partner ...

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JOAN GALVIN

Senior Advisor

Email (202) 342-8638(202) 342-8638

Joan Galvin advocates on behalf of client interests before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the areas of ...

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SOPHIE BERNER-EYDE

Associate

Email +(32)(2) 899-2946+(32)(2) 899-2946

Sophie Berner-Eyde is an associate in the firm’s Brussels office. Her practice focuses on government relations, including assisting the firm’s clients to advance their legislative...

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