Mr. Koff handles major transactions, regulatory and litigation issues for multinational companies, governments and trade associations; will be based in Washington and Baltimore offices
Washington, DC - March 2, 2016 – Expanding its team of international trade and transactional attorneys, Venable LLP has announced that Alexander Koff has joined the firm’s Washington, DC and Baltimore offices as a partner in its Corporate and International Trade Groups. Mr. Koff joins Venable from Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, where he was also a partner.
Mr. Koff advises on a broad range of international transactional, regulatory and litigation issues for clients, including multinational companies, government entities and trade associations. He has been especially active with international trade agreements and policy, international arbitration, and corporate transactions from formation to sale, and in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including Section 337 cases. And he frequently serves as outside general counsel to public and private companies, as well as to entrepreneurs.
Earlier in his career, on a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Mr. Koff served as the resident legal advisor to the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council’s Education Forum in Hanoi. He was responsible for advising Vietnamese government ministries on the implementation of the historic U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, which normalized economic relations between the two countries in the early 2000s. He coordinated between the Vietnamese government and the U.S. government in Hanoi, the American business community and the international donor community operating in Vietnam.
In coming to Venable, Mr. Koff joins the firm’s substantial international platform for litigation, transactions and regulatory affairs. Venable has a large roster of multinational companies in hospitality, telecom, financial services and other sectors; the firm also regularly represents foreign governments in their U.S. legislative and policy matters. Venable is well known for its extensive regulatory counsel, providing 360-degree solutions to complex business challenges in both regulated and unregulated environments.
In the past year, Venable has added three other noted cross-border transactional attorneys – Peter Sternberg, Philip von Mehren and Michele Maney.
“Our corporate and international trade practices get a strong new partner with the arrival of Alex Koff, who has developed a robust cross-border practice that spans high-end transactions and litigation work,” said Lawrence Gesner, who chairs Venable’s Business Division. “Alex’s diverse skill set representing governments, international businesses and trade organizations fits perfectly with the scope of our practice.”
Mr. Koff commented on his move: “Venable has built an impressive international practice that touches all the areas of my work. The firm is renowned in legislative and regulatory matters. Its growing transactional profile and outstanding reputation in litigation and trial work were important attractions for me. Venable’s platform serves the needs of my clients well, and its approach to the practice of law and dedication to client service dovetails perfectly with mine. I’m excited to join the firm.”
Mr. Koff earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, his Masters of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Cambridge and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.
***
Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Our lawyers and legislative advisors serve domestic and international clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory matters, and government affairs. For more information, visit www.venable.com.