Practice Areas:

• Corporate and Securities
• International Law

Mr. Lutz's practice focuses on advising clients on international trade, transactions, and compliance.

Education:

• J.D., University of Texas, with honors, 1989;
• B.A., University of Notre Dame, with honors, 1984

Prior Firms:

• Partner, Baker Botts, LLP, Washington, D.C., June 1989-July 2000
• Partner, Verner Liipfert Bernhard McPherson & Hand, Washington, D.C., July 2000-July 2004;  (In 2003 Verner Liipfert merged into Piper Rudnick.)
• Partner, Hunton & Williams, LLP, Washington/Houston, July 2004-March 2007; International Law and Dispute Resolution Group

Professional Affiliations:

• Member, Governing Council, International Section, State Bar of Texas 
• Chairman, International Section, Austin Bar Association 
• Member, American Society of International Law
• Admitted to practice: District of Columbia and Texas

Publications & Presentations:

• CLE Presentation, Austin Bar Association, The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Developments and Compliance Tips, October 2008 
• CLE Presentation, Austin Bar Association, International Contracting: Overview of Principles and Techniques, September 2007 
• Survey of Legal Developments in Yemen, International Lawyer (forthcoming)
• The Lawyer’s Role in Mitigating CSR Risk, 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law (presentation, and publication in the 2005 Annual Proceedings of the Society)
• Recent Developments in U.S. Export Control Policy and Regulation, television interview, Korean State Television, April 2005
• Survey of Legal Issues Arising in Connection with Political Instability in Latin America, 2002 BP Conference of Latin American Counsel
• 2000 Investment Guide to Azerbaijan:  The Refining Sector
• 1999 Investment Guide to Azerbaijan:  The Evolving Natural Gas Sector

Reported Cases:

Foreign Sales and Investment

• U.S. and foreign clients on sales, distribution, agency, and joint venture agreements for projects in more than 35 countries.
• Multinationals on the use of bilateral and multilateral treaties (including NAFTA) to protect their international trade and investments, and on the use of trade agreements and trade preferences to benefit trading patterns and to obtain leverage over foreign business partners.
• U.S. and foreign companies on international joint technology development, data sharing, and outsourcing arrangements.
• U.S. clients on foreign domestic laws affecting their investments, and on contractual mechanisms to protect investors' rights within the context of international agreements and foreign legal systems.
• U.S. charitable organizations regarding the structuring of legal arrangements for conducting  multi-million dollar charitable operations in  developing countries, and on minimizing potential third-party liability arising in connection with those operations.
• U.S. manufacturers of electronics equipment on sales and vendor financing issues in several countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe.
• A U.S. energy company with respect to investments in natural resources and gas trading operations in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
• A government agency in a Middle Eastern country with respect to revising all of its form contracts for the procurement of goods, architectural consulting services, and construction services.

Regulation of International Business Practices; U.S. Trade Policy

• U.S. clients on the formation and implementation of compliance and risk mitigation programs in connection with their foreign sales and operations. 
• U.S. and foreign clients, including industry trade groups, on U.S. trade policy initiatives on import, export, and foreign investment matters.
• U.S. multinationals with respect to international corporate social responsibility standards and vendor codes of conduct.
• Foreign trade associations with respect to U.S. export control policies and sanctions regulations.
• U.S. clients in using agencies of the U.S. government and international organizations to support the client’s international trade and investment initiatives using such tools as diplomatic leverage, aid programs, certification programs, or benefits qualifications applicable to foreign governments and businesses.
• U.S. and foreign clients on U.S. sanctions, trade regulations, and trade policy, and on evolving international standards regarding business practices.
• U.S. and foreign companies, including major U.S. defense contractors, on application of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to arrangements with overseas agents and joint venture partners.
• A foreign government agency regarding compliance with bilateral and multilateral treaties protecting the rights of foreign investors and contractors.
• Foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies on compliance with U.S. sanctions and trade regulations.

Public International Law and International Disputes

• U.S. and foreign clients regarding the enforcement of foreign judicial and arbitral awards.
• U.S. and foreign companies and foreign governments with respect to investment disputes under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties.
• Foreign governments on issues of international law and investment, including territorial disputes, natural resources development, and treaty formation.
• A Middle Eastern government on sovereign rights in disputes concerning territory and fishing rights.
• Natural resources companies with respect to various treaty and dispute resolution issues in connection with the development of transnational energy transportation projects.
• Foreign governments in U.S. court proceedings raising issues of sovereign rights, enforcement of foreign judgments and awards, immunity, and international law.
• Multinationals on strategies to minimize exposure to foreign litigation.