Keil Ritterpusch

Keil J. Ritterpusch represents clients in international trade, national security, corporate/government investigation, and import compliance matters.

National Security Matters

Keil provides legal counsel on all matters related to the U.S. export control and economic and trade sanctions laws and regulations. Clients come from the defense, aerospace, technology, encryption, computer, semiconductor, electronic device, software, medical, and private equity industries. Keil also provides export compliance counseling in the context of acquisitions, investments, and divestitures involving foreign companies.

Keil has extensive knowledge of export jurisdiction and classifications for virtually all commodities that are regulated by the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). Keil also helps clients to comply with the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) regulations and the Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Regulations (“FTR”).

An integral part of Keil’s practice is export and sanctions compliance assessments and audits.  As self-reporting is a critical part of the export and sanctions compliance process, Keil has helped hundreds of clients to fully investigate and report matters of non-compliance with the ITAR, EAR, FTR, and OFAC regulations through the pertinent agencies’ Voluntary Disclosure processes.   Keil regularly interfaces with engineering personnel, senior leadership, and business development personnel – as well as the government, as needed in both licensing matters and when addressing non-compliance concerns.

Keil regularly advises clients on the Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) requirements for foreign investments in key U.S. industries and their clearance process. Keil leads detailed jurisdictional and classification assessments for an array of proposed foreign interest investments into U.S. companies and shepherds cases through the review process with the U.S. Department of State and CFIUS.  As a result of his extensive knowledge and experience with a broad array of technologies, Keil performs critical technology evaluations in connection with prospective foreign investments to aid in the determination of mandatory or voluntary CFIUS filing requirements.

Keil routinely counsels clients on Foreign Ownership Control & Influence (“FOCI”) matters or U.S. companies with foreign ownership and investments. Such FOCI counseling is also provided for U.S. companies registered under the ITAR as manufacturers and exporters of defense articles where there is prospective and realized foreign ownership and investments.  Keil counsels clients on the requirements of the National Industrial Security Policy Manual (“NISPOM”) regulations and the ITAR for FOCI mitigation and then helps clients prepare and implement pertinent NISPOM rule and export compliance policies and programs.

Import Matters

Keil counsels clients on a wide array of issues pertaining to the importation of goods including: tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, free trade agreements, and specialized trade programs. Keil assists clients facing audits, penalties, seizures, re-delivery notices, and various enforcement actions initiated by Customs & Border Protection (“CBP”).

Keil regularly handles CBP detentions, seizures, and forfeitures, and reduce fines and penalties. He assists clients with addressing CBP Requests for Information (CBP Form 28), responding to Notices of Action (CBP Form 29), and filing Protests with CBP.  He also aids clients with supply chain security concerns.

Keil collaborates closely with both importers and exporters to proactively identify cost-saving opportunities and develop programs that align with CBP’s highest standards of compliance. Support clients in a diverse range of imported products, representing companies from high-tech to traditional industries, ranging from electronics, lumber and paper, textiles, food, petroleum, to steel and construction, automotive, chemical, and defense products.

When not acting as an export/import lawyer, Keil enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. Keil and his wife are super mahjong fans. Keil is an avid fan of college sports, especially Northwestern Field Hockey, Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse, and Northwestern Football. As a long-time varsity field hockey coach, Keil helped to bring varsity field hockey to Loudoun County. Keil is also a black belt in judo, and has the injuries to show for it.