Big Law Ramps Up Hiring in Trade Practices Amid High Demand

Export controls attorney Christopher Stagg was quoted in The National Law Journal on the growing demand for trade and export controls counsel in 2026 as regulatory and policy shifts under the Trump Administration drive client needs. Mr. Stagg, who leads the firm's newly launched International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Defense Trade Compliance Team, explained that companies across aerospace, defense, software, healthcare and manufacturing are increasingly seeking experienced guidance that reflects not only a deep understanding of the rules but also how regulators apply them in practice. He attributed the surge in demand to heightened export control priorities, rising congressional interest and an active ITAR rulemaking pipeline. He added recent proposed and final rules signal that the U.S. Munitions List "will most likely expand and cover more items than it does today," potentially creating "consequences for companies who are currently not covered by ITAR – that they could be potentially covered in the future."

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