Practice Areas

The modern business landscape is defined by international trade. Bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, product classifications, export controls, foreign investments, trade enforcement, and intellectual property protection are crucial to nearly every company. The political climate in Washington and other world capitals has a major impact on the ability of companies to compete domestically and abroad.

 

Monument Policy Group has a proven track record of helping clients achieve results in trade legislation, international trade negotiations, and market access disputes. Our team’s policy and political experience includes work on Congressional trade committees and for Congressional leadership, for two Administrations, for Presidential campaigns, and for business and trade associations. Through this experience, we have developed relationships not only with key Congressional and Administration leaders, but also with foreign governments and embassies.

 

Our team includes Partner Tim Punke, who has worked on every major trade issue in the last decade. Tim has helped a variety of Fortune 500 clients and associations achieve results on a variety of trade related matters. Tim's government experience includes serving as Chief International Trade Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman Max Baucus, as well as on the Clinton Administration White House staff. Founder and Partner Stewart Verdery served as the first Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning at the Department of Homeland Security where he oversaw, among other issues, cargo security and international trade.  

 

Monument's team also includes Rich Thomas, whose Congressional experience includes work with the House Ways and Means Committee, and Jane Alonso, who has significant experience working on international trade issues, particularly those related to China and Canada.

 

We have used these experiences and expertise to help companies and associations find creative solutions to international trade challenges. Whether through traditional legislative fixes, government-to-government negotiations, or by working directly with foreign governments, Monument Policy Group has used its unique insights and skills to solve an array of international issues. We have helped clients in nearly every aspect of trade policy, including reducing tariffs through free trade negotiations and U.S. preference programs, protecting intellectual property in foreign markets, disputing Customs classification rulings, and navigating bilateral trade disputes.

 

International trade issues are diverse and can cut across a number of Congressional Committees and Administration agencies. Monument Policy has experience working closely not only with the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways & Means Committee, and USTR, but also with the myriad Congressional Committees and agencies that influence trade issues, including the Commerce, Agriculture, and Judiciary Committees, the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury, and the White House.