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As an associate with King & Spalding's International Trade practice group, Mercedes specializes in advising clients on international trade and regulatory matters. Mercedes focuses in particular on representing clients in trade remedy and trade compliance proceedings and related litigation. Mercedes advises across sectors, including the steel, chemical, defense, and technology industries.
Mercedes represents clients on all aspects of international trade law and policy, including trade remedy proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and China’s Ministry of Commerce. In addition, Mercedes counsels corporations, financial institutions, and individuals on economic sanctions, export controls, and CFIUS national security review of foreign investment. Mercedes also advises corporations in Section 337 trade enforcement proceedings before the ITC, U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigations, prior disclosures, and on M&A deal transactions to resolve customs issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Mercedes served as Senior Attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance in the U.S. Department of Commerce. In that capacity, she advised the agency with respect to the administration of U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty laws. Mercedes has substantial litigation experience before the U.S. Court of International Trade, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the World Trade Organization, and NAFTA Chapter 19 binational panels. While at the Department of Commerce, Mercedes advised the Steel Import Monitoring & Analysis System and the Softwood Lumber Subsidies Report to the U.S. Congress. In addition, Mercedes favorably resolved significant WTO disputes, including Softwood Lumber from Canada (DS534). Mercedes also contributed to the renegotiation of the NAFTA and participated since the inaugural round. In recognition of her significant contributions to the agency, Mercedes was selected for special recognition by the General Counsel. Mercedes was also awarded with the Distinguished Attorney Award for Exceptional Performance and a Gold Medal Award.
In law school, Mercedes was elected Editor-in-Chief of her law journal. Mercedes was a quarterfinalist in the Leahy Moot Court Competition. Subsequent to law school, Mercedes served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ivan L.R. Lemelle, Senior Judge, at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
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