EAR Compliance & Licensing Masterclass + ITAR Week

International Trade attorneys Christopher Stagg, Tahlia Townsend and Daniel Goren will participate in the American Conference Institute's (ACI) EAR Compliance & Licensing Masterclass + ITAR Week, a virtual series covering updates in the U.S. export controls system and offering actionable takeaways concerning licensing and compliance. With sessions focused on International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), sanctions regimes, U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) license procedures, the Trump Administration's America First Trade Policy and more, the program will equip practitioners with an up-to-date blueprint for effectively advising clients.

Mr. Stagg will speak during two modules throughout the eight-week series. In the first, he will interview Dan Clutch, acting director of the BIS Office of Export Enforcement. The conversation will explore notable EAR enforcement actions and compliance lessons to be learned from them, how to strengthen an export management and compliance program (EMCP), as well as case studies showing how to put these ideas into practice. Mr. Stagg's second session will provide a comprehensive overview of classifying defense articles, technologies and services, with analysis of ITAR rules and definitions and where exporters have gone wrong in complying with them. He will also outline a step-by-step guide to structuring a classification approach and making Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ) requests.

During her presentation, Ms. Townsend will take a deep dive into ITAR licenses and related agreements, from the requirements for obtaining a DSP-5, DSP-73, DSP-61 or DSP-85 license to what the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) evaluates when reviewing applications. She will also distinguish the types of ITAR agreements, including Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs) and Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), as well as describe common reasons for license denials or agreement delays.

Finally, Mr. Goren will take attendees through the nuts and bolts of an ITAR compliance program, highlighting key elements and resources that should be included in addition to ways to structure a program so that it can easily be adapted to evolving risk factors. He will also explain how to respond to suspected or actual ITAR violations, including mistakes to avoid during a government or internal investigation.

Holland & Knight is proud to sponsor this series. Use the code P15-999-HK25 for a 15 percent discount on registration.

Session Times and Topics

EAR Enforcement and Compliance in Practice – The Interplay of Sanctions and Perspectives on the Great Enforcement Shift
July 28, 2025 | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Christopher Stagg

The Ins and Outs of ITAR Classification and CJs
August 5, 2025 | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Christopher Stagg

ITAR Licenses and Agreements (TAAs, MLAs and WDAs)
August 6, 2025 | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Tahlia Townsend

ITAR Compliance in Practice: The Core Elements of an Effective Program, Third-Party and Supply Chain Due Diligence and Monitoring
August 7, 2025 | 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Speaker: Daniel Goren