U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints Roscoe Howard as Special Compliance Coordinator for ZTE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., litigation partner at Barnes & Thornburg in Washington, D.C., has been appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce to serve as the Special Compliance Coordinator (SCC) for Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Corporation, of Shenzhen, China and ZTE Kangxun Telecommunications Ltd. of Hi-New Shenzhen, China (collectively, ZTE).

Howard, a former federal prosecutor who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. The engagement stems from the historic settlement between the Department of Commerce and ZTE that includes a $1.761 billion fine, a ten-year probationary period, and the installation of the coordinator to conduct regular and comprehensive compliance supervision by a team answerable to the Bureau of Industry and Security.

With unfettered access across the company, Howard will coordinate, monitor, assess, and report on compliance with U.S. export control laws by ZTE, its subsidiaries, and affiliates worldwide. The Firm will team with company BDO to assist Howard in serving as the SCC.

“I’m humbled to be chosen for this important role,” said Howard. “It’s not only an honor for me but a true testament to the talented group of Trade and Corporate Compliance attorneys who call Barnes & Thornburg home.”

Howard is well-versed in corporate compliance, having served as a corporate monitor for corporations, led internal investigations of companies in the private sector as well as federal investigations of various corporate entities as a federal prosecutor. Howard now uses this experience to serve those in the private sector on compliance and ethics issues. His practice at Barnes & Thornburg focuses on white collar criminal matters, complex litigation, and corporate compliance and ethics issues.

More information is available in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s press release.

With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 14 offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, Texas and Washington, D.C.