This advanced, practice-focused seminar examines the legal frameworks governing U.S. export controls on strategic energy resources, including oil, natural gas (LNG), refined products, and emerging energy technologies. As energy markets intersect with national security, foreign policy, and global trade, export controls have become a powerful tool of economic statecraft.
The course focuses on how lawyers operate in this environment—advising energy companies, traders, financial institutions, and governments on licensing requirements, sanctions compliance, transaction structuring, and enforcement risk. Students will analyze statutory authorities, regulatory agencies, and real-world compliance challenges, including the interaction between export controls, sanctions regimes, and international trade obligations.
The seminar treats export control law as a high-stakes, practice-driven field, where legal compliance, geopolitical risk, and commercial strategy must be carefully aligned.
This course assumes prior study of international trade law, energy law, or national security law.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the legal framework governing U.S. energy export controls.
2. Identify licensing requirements for energy exports.
3. Analyze the role of federal agencies in export regulation.
4. Evaluate compliance risks in cross-border energy transactions.
5. Understand interaction between export controls and sanctions.
6. Structure transactions to mitigate regulatory risk.
7. Assess enforcement actions and penalties.
8. Advise clients on compliance strategies.
9. Analyze geopolitical drivers of export control policy.
10. Develop practical legal strategies for energy export compliance.
