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Jamie A. Joiner

Jamie Joiner has extensive experience representing U.S. and foreign companies on a wide range of regulatory compliance requirements related to national security, customs and cross-border trade. These include import/customs requirements, export controls, economic sanctions, anti-boycott restrictions and requirements related to NAFTA and other free trade agreements. She regularly represents companies in administrative proceedings before U.S. government agencies, including:

• Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce
• Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury
• Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Department of State
• Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Census Bureau

Ms. Joiner represents companies in the following types of proceedings or transactions with U.S. government agencies:

• Responding to Enforcement Actions
• Filing Voluntary Disclosures
• Responding to Penalty Notices and Claims for Liquidated Damages
• Applying for Export Licenses
• Filing Classification Requests and Commodity Jurisdiction Requests
• Responding to Seizure Notices

She also counsels and assists clients with their compliance programs related to cross-border trade activities, including:

• Conducting internal reviews for export and import compliance, ranging from limited gap assessments to comprehensive trade compliance audits to targeted internal investigations;
• Drafting and implementation of trade compliance policies, programs and procedures, ranging from practical “checklist-style” process sheets and flow charts to more detailed Standard Operating Procedures;
• Working with and providing support to internal trade compliance personnel, including participation in executive briefings on trade compliance matters; and
• Creation and implementation of company-wide trade compliance training modules on various topics, such as Export Classification Training for Subject Matter Experts, Trade Compliance “101,” and many more.

Drawing on several years worth of experience in developing audit modules, screening checklists, work plans, trade compliance process flow charts and more, enables Ms. Joiner to help clients develop and implement a plan for identifying, evaluating and mitigating trade compliance risks across the organization. In working with clients to develop or update existing trade compliance programs, Ms. Joiner takes a practical approach that focuses on integrating the various aspects of trade compliance across the various business units and departments in order to maximize efficiencies and reduce compliance gaps.

Ms. Joiner has advised clients from multiple industry sectors, including:

• oil and gas sector;
• universities and reseach institutions;
• automotive;
• defense contractors;
• nanotechnology;
• electronics;
• telecommunications; and
• transportation, including freight forwarders and customs brokers.

Ms. Joiner holds a U.S. Customs Broker license and has taught several courses and is a frequent guest lecturer and presenter at seminars and conferences.

Memberships and Affiliations

Ms. Joiner serves as Co-Chair of the Houston District Export Council (DEC). The District Export Councils contribute leadership and international trade expertise to complement the U.S. Commercial Service’s export promotion efforts through counseling businesses on the exporting process and conducting trade education and community outreach. Closely affiliated with the U.S. Commercial Service’s U.S. Export Assistance Centers, the 56 District Export Councils (DECs) nationwide are organizations comprised of leaders from their local business community. DEC Members are appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. These international trade professionals use their knowledge and international business experience to act as consultants to small and medium-sized businesses who want to export their products into markets outside of the United States.

She also serves as the Houston Area Coordinator for the Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN), a cooperative program among the Federal Bar Association, U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Small Business Administration. The ELAN program is a nationwide group of attorneys in private law firms that volunteer to provide an initial legal consultation free of charge to companies just beginning to export. Under ELAN, knowledgeable lawyers help new export companies learn the legal aspects of international trade. Issues relating to export licensing, domestic and foreign taxation, tariffs and intellectual property rights are just some of the topics covered. Ms. Joiner regularly volunteers her time through ELAN to help U.S. small and medium-sized businesses begin exporting their products and services overseas.

Ms. Joiner is a member of the Customs Law Committee and the Export Controls & Sanctions Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law and Practice. She is also a member of the Trade and Customs Law Committee of the International Bar Association and a member of the Customs Law Committee of the U.S.-Mexico Bar Association. 

Publications

Ms. Joiner has authored several articles related to her areas of practice. A selection of her works include:

• “Complying with U.S. Export Controls: Practical Considerations and Guidelines for Businesses,” South Texas College of Law, Currents (September 2009)
• “Foreign Nationals May Create Compliance Risks,” Counsel to Counsel International Law Alert (May 29, 2008)
• “Dual-Use Export Controls on Nanotechnology,” Nanotechnology Law & Business (April 8, 2008)
• “Routed Export Transactions: Do You Know Your Rights and Responsibilities?” (October 2005)

Speeches and Presentations

10/21/2010	South Texas College of Law—Corporate Compliance Center Global Compliance: How Do you Integrate Importing, Exporting, Free Trade Agreements and Commercial Contracting Procedures to Maximize Efficiencies and Reduce Compliance Gaps?
6/3/2010	U.S. Export Controls and Sanctions: Licensing and Enforcement Update Export Licenses and DDTC Authorizations: Best Practices, Tips and Trends, Special Comprehensive Licenses, DDTC Licenses and Authorizations
10/22/2009	Baker Hostetler White Collar Issues Seminar U.S. Export Controls and Economic Sanctions
10/15/2009	South Texas College of Law—Corporate Compliance Center Technology Transfers: What You Need to Know About Export Controls on Transfers of Technology to Foreign Employees, Contractors and Visitors
10/9/2009	2009 WESCCON Conference Routed Export Pitfalls: POA Requirements and Forwarder Responsibilities
10/16/2008	Global Compliance:  Intersection of FCPA, Sanctions and Export Controls Export Administration and International Traffic in Arms Regulations
4/9/2008	Houston Export Academy:  Your Gateway to Global Markets Legal Aspects of Importing and Exporting
6/27/2007	Greater Houston Partnership 2007 Import/Export Overview Legal Aspects of Exporting & Importing Into the United States: Legal Compliance and Case Studies
4/30/2007	Offshore Technology Conference Panel:  International Offshore Technology Transfer Risks and Restrictions             Overview of U.S. Government Export Restrictions on Actual Exports and Technology Transfers
4/24/2007	Export Controls for Hospitals and Medical Research Institutions Where Healthcare Research and U.S. Export Regulations Meet
3/8/2007	U.S. Export Controls and Economic Sanctions for the Oil & Gas Industry Overview of Actual and Deemed Export Controls for U.S. and Non-U.S. Companies
1/15/2007	The Three Amigos:  Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Customs and Tariffs Within NAFTA
10/26/2006	Greater Houston Partnership Import Seminar Legal Aspects of Importing
10/24/2006	Greater Houston Partnership Export Seminar Legal Aspects of Exporting
7/25/2006	University of Houston Incoterms:  An Introduction
6/19/2006	San Jacinto College North Importing Into the United States: Complying with U.S. Laws and Regulations
3/28/2006	San Jacinto College North Recent U.S. Customs and Export Enforcement Initiatives
3/7/2006	Transportation Club of Houston Spring Seminar Recent U.S. Customs and Export Enforcement Initiatives
8/31/2005	Greater Houston Partnership Export Seminar Legal Aspects of Exporting
8/29/2005	Greater Houston Partnership Import Seminar Legal Aspects of Importing