ALAN F. HOLMER

Alan Holmer is Special Counsel to the firm with regard to matters involving international trade and forest products. Mr. Holmer has a long and distinguished career in government and the private sector, including having served most recently as Special Envoy for China and the Strategic Economic Dialogue at the U.S. Treasury Department (2007-09). In his previous government service Mr. Holmer served as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (with rank of Ambassador, 1987-89); as General Counsel to the U.S. Trade Representative (1985-1987); on President Reagan’s White House staff (1981-83); and as chief Administrator of the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy laws at the Commerce Department (1983-85).

While serving in the office of the USTR, Mr. Holmer helped craft the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement

A native of Oregon, Mr. Holmer served as Chief of Staff to Senator Bob Packwood from 1972-1978 where, in addition to his management responsibilities, he was responsible for all forest products issues. From 1996-2005, he was President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the trade association for America’s pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

While in private law practice, Mr. Holmer was a partner at Sidley and Austin. In addition to his work in international trade Mr. Holmer represented a number of forest products trade associations and was instrumental in the enactment of the 1990 log export ban statute.

Publications

Mr. Holmer is the co-author or editor of three books including:

• Guide To The U.S.-Canada Free-Trade Agreement

He has also authored or co-authored many law review articles such as:

• Enacted and Rejected Amendments to the Antidumping Law: In Implementation or Contravention of the Antidumping Agreement? 29 Int'l Law. 483

• U.S. Trade Law and Policy Series No. 24: Dispute Resolution in the New World Trade Organization: Concerns and Net Benefits, 28 Int'l Law. 1095

• U.S. Trade and Policy Series No. 20: The Fast Track Debate: A Prescription for Pragmatism, 26 Int'l Law. 183

• “Special 301”: Its Requirements, Implementation and Significance, 13 Fordham Int'l L.J. 259

• The Heart of the 1988 Trade Act: A Legislative History of the Amendments to Section 301, 25 Stan. J. Int'l L. 2

• Significant Recent Developments in Section 301 Unfair Trade Cases, 21 Int'l Law. 211, 213

• Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974: Requirements, Procedures, and Developments, 7 N.w. J. Int'l L. & Bus. 633

• Fair "Apples to Apples" Comparisons in Dumping Cases, 19 Int'l Law. 927

Education

A.B. with honors Princeton University
J.D. from Georgetown University.

Mr. Holmer has served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and a guest lecturer at various other law schools and universities.