Regulatory and Trade Sanctions Law

Matt's regulatory work includes both compliance advice under federal and state law and the representation of individuals and corporations in formal, contested proceedings in front of a wide range of government agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP), the Department of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  State agencies include Connecticut's Department of Revenue Services (DRS), the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the Department of Insurance (DOI), among others.  Some of these representations are fulfilled through timely regulatory compliance advice; however, Matt also has extensive experience in the formal enforcement proceedings and negotiations that sometimes are required by these government agencies.

Examples of some recent representations of both US and overseas companies include the following:

  • USCG enforcement proceedings regarding the passenger certification status of multiple vessels
  • OFAC licensing proceeding involving the acquisition of multiple ships  
  • U.S. CBP and DHS enforcement proceedings relating to the import of foreign goods
  • Tax claims by the Conn. DRS against vessel owners
  • OFAC compliance advice regarding pending sanctions programs in Iran, Ukraine, Cuba, and Russia 
  • Advice regarding DEEP dock regulations and Connecticut riparian law
  • Policy holder representation before the DOI regarding insurance coverage disputes