Nancy A. Noonan

Partner
Nancy's practice focuses on international trade and immigration issues.
Nancy Noonan, Partner, Washington DC at Arent Fox

Nancy helps clients involved in international trade matters, including antidumping or countervailing duty proceedings, and investigations relating to additional duties being imposed on imports (Sections 201, 232, and 301 duties). She also represents clients in matters before US Customs and Border Protection, including EAPA (Enforce and Protect Act) investigations relating to the evasion of antidumping or countervailing duties. Nancy also assists clients in obtaining employment authorization and visas for their foreign national workers under the US’ immigration and nationality laws.

Client Work

Nancy has represented a wide variety of clients in antidumping, countervailing duty, Section 201, Section 232 and Section 301 proceedings before the US Department of Commerce, the US International Trade Commission, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of the US Trade Representative. She also counsels clients on trade dispute and compliance issues arising under free trade agreements, such as the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement and World Trade Organization agreements. She has advised clients in their defense against penalty proceedings by US Customs and Border Protection and False Claims Act proceedings relating to the importation of goods into the United States. In addition, Nancy has counseled clients with respect to classification, valuation, and country of origin marking issues under the customs law. 

Nancy’s clients have included a major steel company; a provincial government in Canada; several trade associations; and manufacturers of merchandise ranging from fabricated structural steel, to bedroom furniture.

She has appeared before the US Court of International Trade, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

 Nancy also routinely advises companies and individuals regarding the optimal strategies for the transfer of foreign nationals for temporary and permanent employment in the United States, and counsels companies in matters relating to the employer’s legal obligations under immigration law including compliance with E-Verify and Form I-9 issues. She is experienced in employment and family-based immigration, nonimmigrant visas, and citizenship issues. She has represented individuals of extraordinary ability, professionals, skilled workers, and investors.

Previous Work

Nancy served as a law clerk to the Hon. Evan J. Wallach of the US Court of International Trade.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

  • Speaker, Case Western Reserve University School of Law Seventh Trade Law Fall Update, “A Conversation on ‘the Role of Mediation in Customs and Trade Law Practice,’” November 2022.
  • Speaker, CRF, "What to Consider when Operating Under the New NAFTA (The USMCA)," March 2019. 
  • Nancy is the Chairman of the Rules Advisory Committee to the US Court of International Trade, and served as a member of the planning committee for the Court of International Trade Judicial Conference in 2004, 2006, 2019, and 2022. She was also a planner and facilitator at the Court of International Trade Bar and Bench Conference in 2003.
  • Nancy is a member of the Advisory Board to the Georgetown Law International Trade Update and frequently speaks at that annual program.
  • Speaker, MEMA, "Section 301 Investigations and Proposed Tariffs,” April 2018.
  • Speaker, MEMA, “Process to Exclude Products from the Section 232 Presidential Proclamations on Steel and Aluminum,” March 2018.
  • Speaker, BSCAI, “What’s New in Immigration,” March 2018.
  • Nancy’s article “Court of International Trade Decisions During 2012 Under 28 U.S.C. § 1581(I) Residual Jurisdiction” was published in the Fall 2013 edition of the Georgetown Journal of International Law.
  • Nancy wrote the “Survey of International Law in the Second Circuit,” published by the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce in spring 2005, 2006, and 2007. She also wrote a chapter in Legal Briefs on Immigration Reform from 25 of the Top Legal Minds in the Country published in 2011 by Robinson Omnimedia Publishing & Studios. In 2008, she contributed an article titled “Preparing and Empowering Clients to Achieve Success with Immigration Matters,” published in the critically acclaimed Inside the Minds series, as well as an article on “Prepping Your Client for Naturalization or Adjustment of Status to Legal Permanent Residence Interviews with USCIS” in the booklet Naturalization Interviews with the USCIS. Nancy has presented on the immigration aspects of deemed exports at the American Bar Association’s program “Beware the Invisible Export Controls,” and in 2004, she was a guest speaker at Georgetown University Law’s Continuing Legal Education Division’s International Trade Update.
  • Nancy also serves on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and is Chairperson of the Board of the DC Affordable Law Firm.

Life Beyond the Law

Nancy lives with her husband and their two dogs in the Ballston area of Arlington, Virginia. She enjoys walking along the Chesapeake Bay in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Prior to entering law school, Nancy taught English in Toyama, Japan for two years through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.