Andrew W. Shoyer

ANDREW SHOYER advises companies on compliance with sanctions administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and export controls and anti-boycott rules administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). He also focuses on the implementation and enforcement of international trade and investment agreements. Drawing on his experience at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and with the World Trade Organization (WTO), Andy advises companies, trade associations and governments on the use of WTO, USMCA and other treaty-based trade and investment rules to open markets and resolve disputes. He works extensively with manufacturers and service providers on WTO compliance in Asia and on protection of intellectual property in bilateral and regional free trade negotiations.

Andy spent seven years at USTR, serving most recently as legal adviser in the U.S. Mission to the WTO in Geneva. He was the principal negotiator for the United States of the rules implementing the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding and has briefed and argued numerous WTO cases before dispute settlement panels and the WTO Appellate Body. Prior to his arrival in Geneva, Andy was assistant general counsel at USTR in Washington, D.C., where he served as principal legal counsel in the negotiation of the market access rules of the NAFTA, as well as the framework agreements with various Latin American countries. He also worked on numerous trade policy issues with the U.S. Congress and the economic agencies of the executive branch of the U.S. government.

“Andrew is a trade compliance expert.”
Chambers Asia & Pacific 2025

“[Andy] is a well-respected attorney who provides strategic legal analysis and advice.”
Chambers USA 2024

Andy’s leadership in the international trade and dispute settlement arena is widely recognized. He is consistently ranked among the nation’s top international trade lawyers by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, Chambers Asia & Pacific, and Lexology Index. Andy has been ranked by:

• Chambers USA for Nationwide International Trade: Remedies & Policy (2005–2024), and has been ranked as Band 1 in that category since 2013.
• Chambers Global for International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy in the USA (2006–2025) and for International Trade/WTO in the Asia-Pacific Region (2021–2025). The 2024 edition described Andy as a “go-to practitioner for issues centered around trade and investment agreements.”
• Chambers Asia & Pacific for International Trade/WTO in the Asia-Pacific Region (2021–2025).
• Lexology Index: USA – Trade & Customs as a “Thought Leader,” most recently in the 2025 edition. In the 2021 edition, he is described as “a top WTO lawyer” who stands out for his “superb knowledge of trade law.” A previous edition notes that he is particularly proficient in dispute settlement proceedings and “very attentive to client needs” (2020).
• International Law Office has bestowed on Andy twice its “Client Choice Award” for client service in trade and customs law.
• Legal 500 U.S. Hall of Fame (2017).

Andy is an adjunct professor in international trade and investment policy at the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University.

The breadth of Andy’s practice is reflected in the following sampling of his representations of:

Economic Sanctions and Export Controls

• Ryan Specialty in its acquisition of Innovisk Capital Partners LLP, a London-based portfolio of specialty managing general underwriters in indemnity, environmental, transactional liabilities, and commercial auto insurance.
• Ryan Specialty in connection with its US$1.1 billion acquisition of US Assure.
• Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited in connection with Mankind Pharma Limited’s US$530 million Indian IPO and Concord Biotech Limited’s US$185 million Indian IPO.
• Athene Holding Ltd. in connection with its acquisition of the business of Donlen Corporation from Hertz Global Holdings, Inc.
• Dell in the acquisition of StatSoft, Inc., a developer of analytics software products and solutions.
• A manufacturer of oilfield equipment regarding compliance with OFAC’s Ukraine-related sanctions.
• A European-based investment fund regarding compliance with OFAC’s Sudanese Sanctions Regulations.
• A global reinsurance company in compliance with OFAC’s General License H under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.

Market Access and Regulatory Barriers

• A Brazilian trade association in the use of WTO rules to address regulatory barriers in Europe affecting trade in renewable fuels.
• An association of global companies seeking to address local content requirements in U.S. federal and state procurement laws.
• A global research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer in the use of WTO rules to address restrictive product standards in China.

Trade Policy and Negotiations

• Bayer USA in proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding trade, investment, and industrial policies in India and their effects on the U.S. economy.
• Caterpillar in the elimination of barriers to trade in remanufactured goods through the negotiation of U.S. free-trade agreements with Chile and Singapore.
• The Government of Colombia on legal issues arising during the negotiation of a free-trade agreement with the United States.

FTA and WTO Disputes

• The U.S. dairy processing industry in proceedings under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to address Canada’s restrictive administration of its tariff-rate quotas on dairy products.
• A global telecommunications services supplier in proceedings to combat unfair conditions of competition in Mexico, resulting in significant reductions in termination rates for cross-border long distance calls.
• A WTO Member government in proceedings regarding local content requirements in Ontario’s clean energy program, resulting in the elimination of the requirements.
• A Russian agricultural trade association in proceedings regarding import restrictions designed to address outbreaks of trans-boundary animal disease.

International Arbitration

• LSF-KEB Holdings SCA et al., v. Republic of Korea, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/37
• Pluspetrol Perú Corporation S.A. et al., v. Perupetro S.A., ICSID Case No. ARB/12/28
• Comapañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. & Vivendi Universal v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/97/3 
• Lanco International Inc. v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/97/6

Climate Change

• American Electric Power in the development of innovative approaches to address carbon leakage as part of proposed U.S. federal climate change legislation.

• Co-chair, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Competition Policy Expert Group (2016–2017)
• Member, U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy (2007–2009) 
• Legal Counsel, U.S.-China Business Council, (2002–December 2018)
• Member, American Society of International Law
• Member, Advisory Board, International Law Institute, International Trade Law Center (2006–present)