Ms. Torres assists clients in complying with U.S. regulatory regimes governing international business transactions, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations export controls, licensing, technical assistance and manufacturing license agreements, commodity jurisdiction, classification, country sanctions, and technology transfers. Ms. Torres also assists with associated enforcement actions, such as conducting internal investigations, preparing voluntary disclosures, and responding to penalty notices. She also represents clients in Customs and Border Protection matters, including customs rulings, classification, focused assessments, C-TPAT and investigations and fines, penalties and forfeiture procedures. Ms. Torres has successfully resolved many government investigations and penalty notices, saving her clients millions of dollars.
Other aspects of Ms. Torres' trade practice involve assisting clients in proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce, including anti-dumping and countervailing duty scope ruling requests. She also counsels clients on the commercial impact of anti-dumping and countervailing duties.
Both U.S. and foreign companies have called on Ms. Torres to assist them in transactions subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) pursuant to the 1988 Exon-Florio statute, as amended by the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007 (FINSA).
Ms. Torres’ international background has given her a cultural understanding that helps her to counsel U.S. companies doing business in Latin America and around the world. She regularly negotiates and documents transactions in Spanish. She also has experience counseling foreign clients doing business in the U.S.
She is a frequent local, national and international speaker and moderator. A few recent speaking engagements include:
• Legal Aspects of Globalization and International Trade, Burgundy School of Business, Dijon, France.
• U.S. Export Controls and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Exporting with the Experts at the University of Texas at Dallas and Richland College, a five week educational program focused on business of exporting products and services abroad. Dallas, Texas (2011-2012).
• International Trade Compliance, Investment and Risk Mitigation Panel for the 13th Annual African Economic Forum and Heritage Festival. Dallas, Texas.
• Presentation on U.S. Export Controls, Industry-Government Seminar on Strategic Trade Management for the Department of Foreign Trade Ministry of Commerce in Thailand and the U.S. Department of Energy. Bangkok, Thailand.
• Presentation (webinar) for ComplianceOnline on Creating a Successful Export Management and Compliance Program.
• Moderated Panel: Non-U.S. Trade Controls: A Deeper Dive, Latin American Panel, Presented by the North Texas District Export Council. Dallas, Texas.
• Presentation at annual Export/Import Conference for Multinational Corporation on International Trade Due Diligence on Merger and Acquisition Transactions. Dallas, Texas.
Ms. Torres is an associate member of the North Texas District Export Council. She served as the Vice-President of Legal Affairs for the Dallas Chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) for 2008 and 2009. In 2009, she was a board advisor for the Group of Latin American Consuls of North Texas (GRULA).
Ms. Torres received her law degree from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, where she was a Ford Foundation Scholarship recipient. In law school, she was a research assistant for Professor of Law Joseph McKnight, a Larry and Jane Harlan Faculty Fellow, in the areas of marital law and Spanish and Mexican legal influence on American jurisprudence. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas with a degree in government and a French minor. Based on her strong academic grades and recommendations, she received a study abroad scholarship to study at La Sorbonne where she received a certification in French language, culture and civilization.
She provides pro bono representation to those in need in the areas of family law through the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) and wills and estate planning for the terminally ill through certified nonprofit organizations. Ms. Torres is a founding member of the Latina Advisory Committee of Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas.
Ms. Torres is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Languages: Spanish and French. |
