Nationwide practice of constitutional and civil rights litigation. Bar admissions include: Virginia; Maryland; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 4th, 8th, and D.C. Circuits; U.S. District Courts for D.C., Maryland, E.D. Virginia, and New Mexico; and U.S. Tax Court.

I began my second tour at this firm in an Of Counsel role.

Founded and manage USAI-Szymanski Rule of Law Programs (2008–Present). Over the past 16 summers, we brought 82 bilingual law students from China's top schools to DC for interactive meetings with U.S. officials, including: ~140 Members and 800+ staff of Congress, 200+ administration officials, and ~130 presidentially-appointed judges. Over the past 8 summers, we also sent 37 bilingual U.S. law students to China from top U.S. law schools, including: Columbia (9), Cornell (2), Duke (1), Georgetown (2), GWU (7), Notre Dame (1), UMich (2), UPenn (1), UVA (5), Vanderbilt (1), & Yale (6). For host lists, support letters, & photos, visit: www.usasiainstitute.org/ruleoflaw. **2020 and 2021 were virtual due to Covid.

Writing and consulting, and developing U.S.-China rule of law programs (above).

Managed international government relations, corporate social responsibility, and export control legal compliance for SMIC (www.smics.com) (SEHK: 981 and then-NYSE: SMI), the largest chipmaker based in China. Taught U.S. style rule of law: Adjunct Prof. (www.ciee.org), East China Normal Univ. (2009–2011) (3-credit course for U.S. college students on "semester abroad"); Part-Time Prof. of Law, Shanghai Jiaotong Univ. (2010–2013); Guest Lecturer, East China Univ. of Political Science & Law (2007–2013) and Peking U. School of Transnational Law (http://stl.pku.edu.cn) (2011–2013). Developed U.S.-China rule of law programs (above). Traveled widely with my family in the hemisphere. Visited all 34 province level regions of China and Taiwan.

Chief of Staff (Nov 2002–Jan 2007); Special Counsel (Jan 2001–Oct 2002): Managed operations of this committee with oversight of all issues affecting small businesses, including its budget of ~$5M and majority staff of 20+ lawyers/professionals. Managed special projects for Chairman Manzullo, such as: (1) Crane-Rangel-Manzullo-Levin Job Protection Act of 2003 (corp. tax overhaul replacing FSC/ETI), (2) Manzullo-Blumenauer Equal Access to Justice Reform Act of 2005; and (3) IPE/trade functions (below). Also served as shared staffer for Rep. Manzullo’s office throughout this period.Managed the U.S.-China Inter-Parliamentary Exchange (IPE) (Jan 2002–Jan 2007) (U.S. has 5 such bilateral IPEs: Canada, Mexico, U.K., S. Korea, & China). On behalf of the U.S. House: organized/hosted 7 Congressional Delegations (Codels) for the U.S. & Chinese Congresses, including leading advance trips, setting itineraries, accompanying delegations, and attending meetings (e.g., Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Li Yuanchao, Bush, Cheney, Pelosi, Hastert, Armey, Hyde, Lantos, Manzullo, Frist, Inouye, Stevens, Justice O’Connor, etc.). Led 17 U.S. Staff Delegations (Staffdels) to China–composed of 100+ senior aides of the House, Senate, and Admin–to engage Chinese leaders on issues of concern, advance U.S. Codels, develop the U.S.-China IPE, promote trade initiatives, and lead trade missions of small manufacturers. Initiated/managed the SME Trade Working Group–composed of 100+ participants from Congress, Admin, and industry–to improve the trade landscape for U.S. small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) via policy proposals, trade missions, and trade facilitation projects. Led U.S. Staffdels to the U.K., Japan, S. Korea, Singapore, Thailand, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, and S. Africa to promote SME trade and new bilateral IPEs.

Advised clients in nonprofit, commercial, tax, regulatory, tort, civil rights, and criminal matters. Served as lead or co-counsel in commercial, tax, employment, constitutional, civil rights, tort, and criminal cases. Admitted to the Virginia State Bar (1991).

GS-12 advisor to the administrative appeals judges of the Benefits Review Board. In law clerk type role, assisted panels of judges in deciding federal benefits cases.

GS-7 law clerk for federal prosecutors full time for four months. Under Third Year Practice Rules, prosecuted petty offenses and authored briefs in the district court and the court of appeals.