Wiley Rein’s Tim Brightbill Named an “International Trade MVP” by Law360

Washington, DC — Timothy C. Brightbill, a partner in Wiley Rein’s preeminent International Trade Practice, has been named a 2014 “International Trade MVP” by Law360, which notes his “18 years at the firm” and his “knowledge of how domestic producers operate and how they are threatened by illegitimate competition.” Mr. Brightbill is one of only three attorneys recognized by the publication in the field.

In a November 25 profile, Law360 notes that Mr. Brightbill played a role in work on behalf of SolarWorld Industries America Inc. and the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing.  Mr. Brightbill and his team petitioned the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose antidumping and countervailing duties on solar cells and modules imported from China and Taiwan.  The cases are ongoing, with final determinations scheduled in December 2014 and January 2015.

“China has fought it every step of the way, but we made a comprehensive effort to document dumping, subsidies, Chinese government interference in the market, and the harm to the U.S. and our market,” Mr. Brightbill told Law360.

The publication also noted Mr. Brightbill’s role in assisting in an investigation into China’s export restrictions of rare earth minerals by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO), which ruled in March that the restrictions violated China’s WTO obligations.  The ruling was upheld by WTO’s Appellate Body in August.

“These WTO cases require a great deal of close coordination with U.S. government,” Mr. Brightbill said.  “Our job was to find the domestic industries that were being harmed, help gather all the information the U.S. needed to bring the case, and to support the U.S. Trade Representative with economic expertise, with technical expertise, and with all the tools they needed to ensure a win at the WTO.”

Mr. Brightbill is part of the Wiley Rein team that handles trade policy and litigation for Nucor, the largest steel producer in the United States.  Last year, the team helped convince the ITC to extend antidumping and countervailing duties on hot-rolled steel products from China, India, Taiwan, Thailand, and Ukraine.

In receiving the recognition from Law360, Mr. Brightbill thanked his Wiley Rein colleagues and clients.  “Wiley Rein is very fortunate to have trade clients like Nucor and SolarWorld,” he said.  “We also have a great team from top to bottom and these wins are team wins.  It’s not any one person.  It’s the team that makes these things happen.”