Kathleen M. Murphy counsels clients on maximizing trade benefits, making informed global procurement decisions and developing domestic and international trade compliance programs. She represents clients in audits, validations and investigations conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She also guides clients through the Importer Self-Assessment Program and designs periodic internal reviews intended to foster self-governance.
Kathleen also represents both domestic and foreign-based companies in developing or enhancing comprehensive solutions for supply chain and cargo security management. She assists clients in meeting the security criteria of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and prepares C-TPAT approved companies for program validations performed by CBP.
In addition, Kathleen, along with her colleagues and consultants, handles a full array of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) services, including feasibility studies, FTZ applications, Request for Manufacturing, FTZ activation procedures and other FTZ operational support. She also conducts training and compliance reviews and represents clients in enforcement proceedings.
Kathleen is ranked nationally in the 2012 edition of Chambers USA, where her clients describe her as having a "highly sophisticated" customs practice and a "really strong grasp" on valuation work. Kathleen co-authored an aritcle, "Materiality Requirement of Section 592 as Applied to Country-of-Origin Declarations," with Richard Ferrin in the forthcoming edition of the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law 2013, volume 21, issue 2. Kathleen is a frequent speaker on trade security and trade regulatory compliance and has addressed numerous organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the American Association of Exporters and Importers, the International Compliance Professionals Association, the Midwest Global Trade Association, the Council of Logistics Management, Society of International Affairs, Women in International Trade and various local and regional trade associations.
She serves on the board of governors of the American Association of Exporters and Importers, is team leader for its Importer Self-Assessment Program for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries and is past co-chair of its membership committee. In addition, she is past vice-chair of the Customs and U.S. Trade Law Committee of the American Bar Association, past board member and chair of the Publications Committee of the Customs and International Trade Bar Association and past chair of the International and Foreign Law Committee of the Chicago Bar. She is also the past president and director of the Chicago Chapter of Women in International Trade.