Overview

Lisa Mays is an associate in the Governmental Practice in the firm's Orange County office. She is lead associate of the firm’s Transportation Team.

Areas of Practice

Lisa focuses her practice on compliance counseling and investigations in the areas of export controls, economic sanctions, anti-corruption, customs and import regulations. She provides practical solutions for clients' global business while helping them detect and prevent compliance threats. 

Lisa regularly counsels companies in the following industries: aerospace and defense, artificial intelligence, aviation, automotive, education, electronics, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, mining, retail, semiconductors, software, solar, space, staffing, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. She advises clients on sanctions; export controls, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR); trade agreements; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); Customs and imports; antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD); the False Claims Act; Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); anti-boycott controls; cybersecurity issues; and anti-money laundering (AML) matters.

Lisa represents clients before the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS), the Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the International Trade Commission (ITC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and CFIUS.

Prior to her career as an attorney, she worked for cloud-based startups in Berlin, Germany.

Experience

Experience

Export Controls:

  • Obtained approval from Department of Commerce to enable German construction and engineering firm to operate in Cuba
  • Advised U.S. university on technology and deemed export issues related to non-U.S. campuses, students and faculty
  • Assisted in internal investigation and disclosure of encrypted software exports resulting in closing of Department of Commerce case without export penalties or monetary damages
  • Performed due diligence enabling private equity firm to complete acquisition of defense and security business of a defense contractor
  • Advised automotive components manufacturer regarding exports of technology to Russia
  • Conducted export controls audits for U.S. rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer; U.S. aircraft parts manufacturer; and U.S. telecommunications software company  
  • Drafted export control policies and procedures for Norwegian defense company; U.S. entertainment service provider; and U.S. consulting firm
  • Counseled U.S. satellite communications company on end user due diligence under the EAR

Customs and Imports:

  • Drafted exclusion requests for multiple U.S. manufacturers and retailers under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974
  • Counseled U.S. companies on global supply chain solutions after implementation of Section 301 tariffs and with respect to AD/CVD duties
  • Successfully helped electronics company secure the release of goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • Assisted U.S. food and beverage companies with Customs classifications and country of origin markings under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
  • Counseled Australian company on rules of origin under the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (USAFTA), and assessed Customs exposure risks
  • Advised South Korean solar company on compliance with antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders
  • Assisted U.S. manufacturers with prior disclosures, CF-28 and CF-29 notices and audits regarding valuation, antidumping and countervailing duties and classifications

U.S. Sanctions:

  • Advised EU security service provider on U.S. sanctions compliance issues in transaction with Iranian airport authorities to provide security services at Iranian airports
  • Analyzed sanctions risk for non-U.S. law firm with Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) clients
  • Advised commercial launch services provider on compliance with Russia sanctions
  • Counseled U.S. company in acquisition of intellectual property from Iranian company
  • Advised non-U.S. bank on compliance with Cuba, Iran and North Korea sanctions
  • Prepared expert report for non-U.S. aviation company regarding sanctions issues for British arbitration
  • Drafted Iran sanctions compliance protocol for Italian aviation services company
  • Counseled entertainment and technology company on compliance with Iran sanctions

Antiboycott:

  • Conducted antiboycott analyses of financial and shipping transactions for top automotive manufacturer
  • Analyzed antiboycott risk for U.S. manufacturer shipping globally
  • Counseled software company with operations in Israel on compliance with antiboycott laws

Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS):

  • Assisted U.S. entity in CFIUS submission regarding sale to foreign investment fund of infrastructure assets
  • Advised U.S. subsidiary of German company on national security considerations raised by proposed acquisition, and assessed need for CFIUS filing
  • Counseled Chinese acquirer regarding CFIUS in connection with health care systems and hospital acquisitions

Additional Experience:

  • Created anti-money laundering (AML) policy for top credit rating agency
  • Assessed AML risk for startup company seeking to operate globally
  • Assisted in representation of South Korean company in antidumping case before the International Trade Commission (ITC)
  • Conducted antiboycott analysis of financial and shipping transactions for automotive manufacturer
  • Assisted technology company with grand jury subpoena response
  • Counseled military mental health services nonprofit organization on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
  • Supported in the defense of Fortune 500 company in False Claims Act suit related to alleged General Services Administration (GSA) non-compliance

Insights

Articles

  • "The Trickle Down Effect of Privacy Shield Uncertainty: Fluctuating Lines for Anti-Bribery Compliance," Journal of Internet Law, Wolters Kluwer, April 2016

Books

  • Contributing author, "The CFIUS Book" WorldECR, May 2020
  • Co-author, ABA Employment Handbook: Export Controls Chapter
  • Co-author, GSA Schedule Handbook: International Trade Compliance for MAS Contractors Chapter
  • Contributing author, "The CFIUS Book" WorldECR
  • Co-author, "U.S. Export Controls and the Cloud" chapter, Cloud Computing Legal Deskbook, 2015 Edition, Thomson Reuters

Corporate & Securites Blog Posts

False Claims Act Defense Blog Posts

Global Trade Law Blog Posts

Government Contracts & Investigations Law Blog Posts

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

  • "Global Law Trade Insights 2024: A Women-Led Dialogue," Women in International Trade Orange County, March 13, 2024

Memberships

Memberships

Co-Chair of Americas Team, The Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT)

Former Exports, Sanctions & National Security Committee Member, WIIT

Member, Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA)

Former Chair, Young Lawyers Division, International Law Committee, American Bar Association, 2016-2018

Member, California State Bar

Member, District of Columbia Bar

Education

J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2015, with honors, Law Review

B.A., University of Southern California, 2010

Admissions

  • California
  • District of Columbia

Languages

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