Noted Canada-US Cross Border Trade Authority Birgit Matthiesen Joins Arent Fox

Building from her role as the Washington, DC representative and Special Advisor to the President and CEO of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), Ms. Matthiesen will work with Arent Fox’s team of international trade lawyers and government relations professionals to advise companies on trade and commercial relations between Canada and the United States. Also as a first, Ms. Matthiesen will co-chair a cross-disciplinary Canada practice with International Trade partner David R. Hamill, who is also well known within the Canadian business community.

“Birgit is a force in Canada’s trade and business industries and is highly regarded among Canadian and US manufacturers after years of standout work for the CME and the Embassy of Canada,” said Managing Partner Matthew J. Clark. “Her knowledge and insight into cross-border trade activities will be a valuable resource to clients.”
 
As a special advisor at CME, Ms. Matthiesen represented members’ interest in the United States and helped shape successful cross-border advocacy strategies on a wide variety of regulatory and legislative initiatives. A well recognized name within the Canadian trade community in both public and private sectors, Ms. Matthiesen has gained the trust and respect of Ottawa, provincial capitals, and CME member companies with her ability to “think Canadian south of the border” and to interpret for Canadian businesses the challenges they face in the US marketplace. In addition, her work with top executives of US business associations, third-country business groups, and sub-federal government entities in the US offers a breadth of understanding and relationship building that will give Arent Fox clients a unique and dynamic presence in the United States.
 
Prior to her work at CME, Ms. Matthiesen was a key member at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, serving in the Economic and Trade Policy Division for more than 20 years. Her primary responsibility there was to ensure access to the US market for Canadian exporters and shippers. In that role, she was part of the broader advocacy team of the Embassy and worked closely with Canadian Consulates throughout the US, while managing a number of critical initiatives—most notably the inaugural “All Politics is Local” advocacy effort on Capitol Hill, an event that is now an annual priority for the Embassy in Washington and involves 13 Consulates, over 50 CEOs, and hundreds of meetings with Congressional offices.
 
“Birgit has a great reputation in Washington and has done important work to build solid, lasting relationships between Canadian companies and US elected officials,” said Senator Byron Dorgan, co-chair of the firm’s Government Relations practice. “She has been a great ambassador for Canada and I look forward to working with her.”
 
Among her other notable achievements, Ms. Matthiesen was tapped by the Privy Council of Canada to join an executive inter-agency team to develop the Security and Prosperity Partnership agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada; in 2008, she joined with Michael Kergin, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, to author “A New Bridge for Old Allies,” a border study report for the prestigious Canadian International Council; and in 2010, she formed the first Businesses for Better Borders coalition in support of the Beyond the Border Action Plan launched by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
 
Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and Legal 500 have recognized Arent Fox’s International Trade practice and its attorneys as industry leaders. The group represents and advises domestic and foreign companies and government entities in a broad range of cross-border matters, including customs/import compliance, global trade policy, international trade litigation, international anti-corruption, dispute resolutions, international arbitration, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and export controls and sanctions.