Department profile
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded
USA Guide 2026 : USA - Nationwide
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Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
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Strengths
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Reed Smith stands out for its deep sanctions expertise, unparalleled knowledge of multi-jurisdictional sanctions and its proactive approach to evolving regulations. The team has the ability to translate complex legal frameworks into actionable business strategies for clients, offering risk-based, practical solutions.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSAReed Smith provides timely, concise and practical advice. It has seen all sorts of export, sanctions and import issues, allowing it to quickly advise on more common concerns and to apply its knowledge and experience to tackle more complex and sophisticated issues.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSAReed Smith distinguishes itself through its exceptional knowledge of customs law and regulations and a strong partnership approach; its lawyers feel like part of my team. If I have anything urgent, they work through it with me and they are always there for support.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSA
Notable Practitioners
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Band 4 
Band 4 Leigh Hansson
Leigh Hansson has a broad export controls practice often advising on sanctions compliance and investigations. She has a strong client base in the private equity, finance and manufacturing sectors. Leigh's deep maritime industry fluency goes beyond legal theory to grasp operational realities.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSALeigh’s excellent service, to-the-point and no-nonsense advice and availability has made her indispensable in navigating sanctions in our industry.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSALeigh is always contactable and responsive. Her advice is commercial and to-the-point and she can be relied upon to get the job done under pressure. Leigh is any client's dream lawyer when stuck in a bind. Her strategic insight on complex matters is invaluable.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSA
Band 4 
Band 4 Michael Lowell
Michael Lowell often works with clients on OFAC and EAR-related trade controls matters. He is experienced in representing clients from sectors such as financial services, defense and aerospace. Michael is a true expert on national security, export control and sanctions-related questions. What I personally love about working with him is that his advice is so clear and concise that, if I wanted to, I could forward it straight to a businessperson with no legal background and they would know exactly what to do.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSAMichael is a trusted adviser with strategic, practical and efficient problem-solving abilities who transforms the complexity of global trade regulations into clear, practical and profitable business solutions.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSAMichael is terrific. He is extremely knowledgeable and uses that knowledge and experience to quickly get to the heart of the problem and to provide good advice. He is also skilled at scoping issues and looking at questions from the business perspective so that our approach takes commercial concerns into account.
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions: Highly Regarded respondentUSA
Ranked Individuals at Reed Smith LLP (2)
USA - Nationwide
Leigh Hansson
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
View profile Michael Lowell
International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
View profile
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