Background

The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has retained ST&R as Legislative Counsel, led by Nicole Bivens Collinson. The position is effective Oct. 15. 

Collinson leads the International Trade and Government Relations Practice of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., in Washington, D.C., and serves as managing principal of the Washington, D.C., office. She is also a member of ST&R's Operating Committee and a commentator on trade matters on MSNBC and NPR.

Collinson has over 30 years of experience in government, public affairs, and lobbying. She has drafted and guided the successful implementation of several pieces of key international trade legislation positively affecting the bottom line of many U.S. companies. 

“Recent events have highlighted just how crucial well-operating supply chains are to our economic health. The NCBFAA’s members play an indispensable role in making that happen, and for almost 125 years the Association has worked tirelessly to make it easier for those companies to do their jobs,” Collinson said. “ST&R looks forward to aiding this work by using our decades of experience building effective relationships with Congress and federal agencies to advance the priorities of the NCBFAA and its members.”

Collinson is a well-known international trade authority in Washington, regularly called upon by members of Congress and the Administration to help explain complex trade programs. Her decades of work with the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees and the Senate Finance; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Foreign Relations; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees has established deep and lasting relations with members of Congress and their staffs.

Prior to joining Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, Collinson served as assistant chief negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, responsible for the negotiation of bilateral agreements with Latin America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, the Sub-Continent and Africa. She also served as a country specialist in the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce, where she was responsible for the preparation of negotiations on specific topics between the U.S. and Latin America, Eastern Europe, China, and Hong Kong, as well as the administration of complex textile agreements.

Collinson holds a master’s degree in international relations from The George Washington University and a triple bachelor’s degree in political science, European studies, and French from Georgetown College.

“I have known Nicole for a number of years and find her to be utmost professional and extremely knowledgeable of the legislative process in Washington, D.C.,” NCBFAA President Jan Fields said. “The association will certainly benefit from her talent and expertise as we navigate current and future legislative matters that impact our industry.”

“On behalf of the association, I am thrilled to see Nicole join our team,” said NCBFAA Legislative Chair Laurie Arnold. “Nicole’s reputation as an expert in our industry precedes her and we are thrilled to be able to deepen our relationship with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg. We look forward to working closely with her to effectively advocate for our members’ needs before Congress, the Administration, and beyond.”

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ST&R is a leading international trade, customs, export, and trade policy firm that has set the standard for international trade lawyers and consultants since its founding in 1977. Clients worldwide, including governments, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and sureties, rely on ST&R’s comprehensive and effective services to succeed amid the constantly changing demands of global trade.

 

Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, the NCBFAA represents more than 1,000-member companies with 110,000 employees in international trade -the nation's leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs and air cargo agents, serving more than 250,000 importers and exporters. Established in 1897 in New York, NCBFAA is the effective national voice of the industry. Through its various committees, counsel and representatives, the Association maintains a close watch over legislative and regulatory issues that affect its members. It keeps them informed of these and other related issues through its weekly Monday Morning eBriefing, and various meetings and conferences throughout the year.

 

Professional

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J. Nicole Bivens Collinson
Managing Principal, Operating Committee; International Trade & Government Relations Practice Leader
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