With wide-ranging experience working on national security issues in the White House, the State Department, and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Stephen Rademaker helps clients navigate international policy, sanctions, and CFIUS challenges.
Among his accomplishments in public service, Stephen had lead responsibility, as a U.S. House staffer, for drafting the legislation that created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Serving as an Assistant Secretary of State from 2002 through 2006, he headed at various times three bureaus of the State Department, including the Bureau of Arms Control and the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. He directed the Proliferation Security Initiative, as well as nonproliferation policy toward Iran and North Korea, and led strategic dialogues with Russia, China, India, and Pakistan. He also headed U.S. delegations to numerous international conferences, including the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Stephen concluded his government career on Capitol Hill in 2007, serving as Senior Counsel and Policy Director for National Security Affairs for then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN). In this role, he helped manage all aspects of the legislative process relating to foreign policy, defense, intelligence and national security. He earlier served as Chief Counsel for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security of the U.S. House of Representatives and as Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the House Committee on International Relations.
During President George H. W. Bush’s administration, Stephen served as General Counsel of the Peace Corps, Associate Counsel to the President in the Office of White House Counsel, and as Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council. After leaving government in 2007, he continued to serve as the U.S. representative on the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, and he was subsequently appointed by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) to the U.S. Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.
Alexandre Lamy joined Baker McKenzie in 2009 and currently works in the Firm's International Trade Practice Group. He assists clients with sanctions and export controls (Export Administration Regulations (EAR); International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)) and he advises clients on corporate compliance matters. Alex contributes regularly to Baker McKenzie's Sanctions & Export Controls Update blog.
Since August 2021, Alex has been the co-chair of the ABA Section of International Law’s Export Controls & Economic Sanctions Committee. Prior to that appointment, he served on the steering group and as a Vice Chair of the Committee, starting back in August 2011. Alex has organized multiple events regarding recent developments in US trade sanctions and export controls for the Committee.
Alex was recognized in Who's Who Legal 2020 Edition of its Global Guide to Trade & Customs Lawyers as a "leading individual" in North America on International Sanctions and the publication reported that he "attracts applause for delivering 'a practical service which understands the needs of the business'. His 'ready availability to clients, thorough research and strong presentation skills' are further acclaimed." He was also recognized in the 2019 Edition of the same publication as being "much sought after by clients who praise his 'advice of the highest quality' and add, 'He is technically very good on OFAC sanctions issues and military/dual use export controls.'" Alex was named by Financier Worldwide in, “POWER PLAYERS: International Trade & Sanctions 2021 - Distinguished Advisers.
Benjamin Kostrzewa served as assistant general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he handled U.S.-China disputes and negotiations, World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes, and free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. Currently working out of our Hong Kong and Washington, D.C. offices, Benjamin advises clients in the ever-changing area of international trade law with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
His experience at the USTR and deep knowledge of the greater China market uniquely position him to assist global clients in navigating U.S. export controls, Section 301, U.S.-China trade disputes, U.S. sanctions policies, and other complex trade law challenges.
Benjamin assists his clients on the full spectrum of trade issues, including cross-border export controls and sanctions investigations, Section 301, anti-dumping and countervailing duty matters, FTA negotiations, Section 232 and Section 301 exclusion applications, customs issues, Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States filings, and WTO and FTA disputes. He represents clients before the USTR; Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury; International Trade Commission; WTO; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
John Larkin founded Larkin Trade International in June 2005 and has since grown the company into one of the leading providers of trade compliance consulting in China and the Asia Pacific region. Prior to founding LTI, John served as the Director for Export Compliance for Veeco Compound Semiconductor, a company that provides compound semiconductor manufacturing equipment for use in the production of light emitting diodes, radio frequency emitters, and solar cells. In this position, John utilized his knowledge of Asian markets and export controls to assist Veeco in addressing its trade issues relating to Asia and other areas of the world, including developing a market strategy in line with export compliance policies, providing guidance on logistics and regulatory issues, and serving as a primary liaison with U.S. and foreign government officials.
From 2002-2004, John served at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing as the Export Control Attaché and as a Commercial Officer. As the Export Control Attaché John was the Bureau of Industry and Security representative in China serving as the U.S. Government expert on dual-use export controls. In that role, John traveled extensively throughout China conducting site visits at Chinese companies and meeting with provincial Chinese Government officials. John was a primary U.S. Government representative in negotiating a bilateral export control agreement that was concluded in 2004. The Secretary of Commerce awarded John a Gold Medal for his role in these negotiations. As a Commercial Officer, John provided counseling and assistance to U.S. companies on a broad range of trade issues and served clients in various industry sectors, including aerospace, machine tools, nuclear, and IT/Telecom. John authored reports for the Country Commercial Guide for the machine tool and security equipment sectors, among others, as well as program reports on export controls and standards.
From 1995-2001, John was a Special Agent, first with the U.S. Customs Service in Los Angeles, then with the Dallas Field Office of the Bureau of Industry and Security. As a Special Agent, John conducted administrative and criminal investigations related to U.S. Government trade laws and regulations, including valuation, intellectual properties rights, antidumping, and export controls. From this experience, John became well versed in U.S. and foreign trade laws and regulations. In 2001, the Secretary of Commerce awarded John a Silver Medal for the successful completion of a complex and international investigation.
John is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. 1989, M.S. 1989) and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He speaks, reads, and writes Mandarin Chinese.