LAWYER PROFILE
Alison Stafford Powell

Alison Stafford Powell

USA 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Baker McKenzie

USA

Practice Areas

Alison Stafford Powell chairs the North America Trade Compliance team. She has considerable experience counseling US and non-US companies on managing trade compliance in the areas of export controls, trade and financial sanctions and US anti-boycott laws. As a dual-qualified lawyer, she provides practical advice to help non-US companies reconcile US and foreign trade regulations and on the extra-territorial impact of US trade restrictions. Chambers USA quotes clients' praise for her being "extremely knowledgeable, responsive, commercially strong and understanding complex issues well." Legal 500 describes here as an "outstanding specialist." She has worked in the Firm's London, Washington, DC and Palo Alto offices since 1996.

Alison provides full-spectrum compliance counseling in the areas of export controls and sanctions, including under the US Export Administration Regulations and the OFAC sanctions. Her services include compliance planning, risk assessments, licensing, regulatory interpretations, voluntary disclosures, enforcement actions, complex internal investigations and audits, mergers and acquisitions and other cross-border activities. She also develops compliance training, codes of conduct, compliance procedures and policies.

She has particular experience in the following sectors: financial services, technology/IT services, travel/hospitality, telecommunications, semiconductors and manufacturing.

Professional Memberships

The Law Society of England and Wales

American Bar Association, International Law Section

California Bar International Law Section

Women in International Trade - Northern California

Publications

• Contributor - World Economic Forum Insight Report Mapping TradeTech: Trade in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (December 2020)

• Presenter - Tech Talk (2015 and 2016)

• Presenter - Immigration and Export Control (California State Bar, 2011)

• Contributor - Cross-Border Transactions Handbook (Baker & McKenzie LLP, 2008)

• Presenter - EU Export Controls and Trade Sanctions (Export Control Coordinators Association of National Laboratories, 2006)

• Co-author - International Trade Chapter of The Encyclopedia of Information Technology Law (Sweet & Maxwell Ltd., 2005)

Education

College of Law at London

Hosei University, Tokyo

Cambridge University

MA, honors

Cambridge University

BA Hons, First Class, Oriental Studies

Expert in these Jurisdictions

USA

Languages Spoken

English, Japanese

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions - USA - Nationwide

Band 4
Band 4

Individual Editorial
Alison Stafford Powell handles a range of trade control matters. Her clients include telecommunications companies and private equity funds.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Alison consistently provides clear and well-reasoned advice based on a solid understanding of both our business and the technical aspects involved.

    International Trade: Export Controls & Economic SanctionsChambers Guide to the USA
  • Alison is a fantastic lawyer with exceptional commercial acumen. She provides clear, practical advice quickly, and her calm reassuring demeanor makes even the most complex matters feel manageable. Her positive attitude and ability to break down sophisticated issues into solutions have been invaluable. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

    International Trade: Export Controls & Economic SanctionsChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Baker McKenzie (103)

California

California: Los Angeles & Surrounds

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District of Columbia

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