Kerry B. Contini
Biography
Kerry Contini is a partner in the Firm's International Trade practice and Global Sanctions Investigations group, specializing in sanctions and export controls. She helps multinational companies navigate these ever-changing rules and guides them through investigations when compliance issues occur. Kerry provides strategic advice on related geopolitical risks, human rights, and supply chain issues.
Kerry has been ranked by Chambers Global and Chambers USA, with clients highlighting that "her advice and solutions are business-focused" and that she is "very practical and easy to work with." Legal 500 reported a client as stating that "Kerry is thoughtful, practical, efficient, and has really invested in getting to know our business and our team."
Kerry has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Global Investigations Review, Bloomberg Law, the National Law Journal and Asian Legal Business. She is an editor of the Firm's Global Supply Chain Compliance Blog and is a regular contributor to the Firm's Global Sanctions & Export Controls Blog.
Kerry is passionate about inclusion and diversity and is involved in the BakerWomen DC and regional leadership. She has maintained an active pro bono practice throughout her career at Baker McKenzie, primarily focusing on public international law, animal advocacy and election protection.
Kerry has been with Baker McKenzie since she was a summer associate in 2005. She started as an associate in 2006.
Practice Focus
Kerry's practice focuses on trade sanctions (including OFAC), export controls (EAR, ITAR, NRC, DOE), and antiboycott laws and regulations.
Her practice involves the full range of compliance and investigations matters. She advises US and multinational companies on trade compliance programs, risk assessments, licensing, review of proposed transactions and enforcement matters. She regularly advises companies on investigations and voluntary self-disclosures, including cross-border investigations that involve potential violations across multiple jurisdictions. She provides strategic advice on the impact of trade compliance and geopolitical risks on major transactions, including M&A transactions, carve-outs and divestitures.
Kerry works regularly with companies across a wide range of industries, including in particular the energy, healthcare, consumer goods and luxury goods sectors.
Representative Legal Matters
- Conducted an investigation for a large US-based manufacturer into unlicensed exports to entity list parties in China and prepared voluntary self-disclosures for submission to the Commerce Department and Census Bureau.
- Conducted an investigation into exports to Cuba and prepared and submitted voluntary self-disclosure reports to the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Bureau of Industry and Security.
- Provided ongoing trade compliance advice for a major manufacturer of pharmaceutical products and medical devices on compliance with US export controls and trade sanctions, including drafting and submitting license applications, classification requests and voluntary self-disclosures.
- Conducted a risk assessment for a Fortune 500 company and provided recommendations to improve the company's export controls and sanctions compliance program.
- Prepared a request for specific authorization for submission to the Department of Energy and liaised with the Department of Energy about compliance requirements.
- Represented a US company in a voluntary self-disclosure to the Office of Anti-boycott Compliance in the US Commerce Department.
- Completed a secondment with a multinational pharmaceutical and medical device company focusing on export controls and trade sanctions compliance.
Professional Honors
- Chambers Global, Export Controls & Trade Sanctions – Ranked Up & Coming (2022, 2023)
- Chambers USA International Trade: Export Control and Economic Sanctions – Ranked Up & Coming (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Legal 500 USA International Trade: Customs, Export Controls And Economic Sanctions – Ranked Next Generation Partner (2023)
- Who’s Who Legal: Recommended in Trade & Customs – International Sanctions (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Admissions
- District of Columbia~United States (2007)
- California~United States (2006)
Education
- George Washington University Law School (J.D., Honors) (2006)
- George Washington University (Master of Arts, International Development Studies) (2006)
- University of California at San Diego (B.A., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) (2002)
Languages
- English
- Italian