Irwin P. Altschuler began his career in 1975 with the U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Treasury Department when those agencies were charged with enforcing unfair trade remedy laws of the United States. He advised senior Customs, Treasury and Justice Department officials on major antidumping cases, and spent substantial time in Japan investigating and resolving those disputes. Irwin also served as a liaison with a number of U.S. attorneys prosecuting cases of fraud and other serious customs violations.
In the private sector, Irwin has built a practice that retains its original focus on trade remedies litigation and enforcement proceedings and has grown to include trade policy matters and business issues arising from accessing and defending international markets. Irwin's practice has a strong focus on Mexico. Over his distinguished career, he has represented some of Mexico's largest corporations and Mexican government entities in international trade and other complex legal, policy and business matters. His experience extends to representations in South America, the Caribbean, and Asia.
Most recently, Irwin served as Senior Advisor for International Affairs at a major Mexican steel company where he played an instrumental role in launching the company’s corporate affairs office in Washington, D.C. In this role, Irwin counseled the company on legal, regulatory, and political matters important to its access to the U.S. market.
Irwin is a member of the firm’s Tariff Task Force, a multidisciplinary initiative that draws on the firm’s global platform to guide our clients through what comes next in regards to tariffs, including tariff refund matters, tax, litigation, and M&A activity spurred by these global shifts.
Concentrations
•IEEPA tariff recovery
•Trade remedies and disputes (U.S., third countries, WTO)
•Trade policy and negotiations
•United States-Mexico relations
•International business and foreign investment issues
Recognition & Leadership
Awards & Accolades
•Recipient, DEACERO, 'Founder's Award for Service to the Company'
•Listed, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” 2019-2020
•Listed, Latin Lawyer, 'Latin Lawyer 250 - Practice Recognition: Trade,' 2020
•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, 2008 and 2010
•Listed, Chambers Global, 2008-2009
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2007-2008
•Rated, AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0
