AI & Trade: Policy to Practice
Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM
This program brings together industry leaders, in-house trade professionals, and two of Akin Gump's leading international trade practitioners - Shiva Aminian, Partner, and Gregory Dunlap, Senior Regulatory Advisor and former Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) in Los Angeles -to explore the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and international trade. Joining the panel from Google LLC are Nicole Smith, Senior Global Trade Counsel, and Malori DiPierro, Senior Trade Specialist, offering firsthand perspective on how one of the world's leading technology companies is deploying AI tools in practice. From regulatory frameworks to real-world implementation, AI & Trade: Policy to Practice offers a comprehensive look at how AI is reshaping the trade compliance landscape - and what that means for practitioners on the ground.
The evening begins with networking at Morgan Lewis's Palo Alto office, which features a beautiful indoor/outdoor patio space - a perfect setting to connect with fellow trade professionals before the program. We're grateful to Morgan Lewis for graciously hosting us.
Shiva will lead a moderated panel discussion, examining the landscape shaping AI's role in trade compliance and the emerging rules of the road. The panel will explore the intense drive for efficiency that is pushing trade teams to adopt new tools and will take a candid look at what tools panelists are actually using, what they are finding works, and where they are encountering limitations. Panelists will also address which compliance processes are most ripe for AI-driven efficiency gains, how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of available tools, and the practical realities of being asked to do more with less.
A dedicated segment will focus on hands-on productivity — covering key AI use cases in trade compliance, what makes an effective prompt, and how to get more out of the tools you are already using.Shiva will also lead an audience-engaged discussion on the pragmatic use of AI within day-to-day operations. We encourage you to come ready with questions! Whether you're trying to understand how evolving policy affects your compliance program or exploring what AI means for the future of trade, you'll leave with a stronger grasp of the regulatory landscape, practical tools to boost your team's productivity, and a clearer sense of where things are headed.
Curious about AI and trade compliance? Reach out to us at info@wit-nc.com.
Speakers
Shiva Aminian, Partner, Akin Gump:
Based in California, Shiva has a global regulatory and international trade practice. Shiva leads Akin’s international trade group in California, which she founded, and serves as co-head of the firm’s technology sector group.
Shiva has won the highest honors. Most recently, she was ranked as a Leading Lawyer in International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions by Chambers USA. Clients commented on how Shiva “is consistently expert at assessing the business situation against the regulatory requirements and providing a framework for the client that is reasonable, implementable and practical.”
She has also been named among the Leaders of Influence and Women of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The publication noted Shiva’s leadership in the firm’s “renowned international trade practice—one of only a few such practices in the Western U.S.”
The American Lawyer named Shiva as one of its West Trailblazers, singling out “agents of change in their respective practice areas.” The Diversity Journal listed Shiva as among the Asian Leaders Worth Watching.
Shiva is a trusted and strategic advisor to the world’s leading companies, with a particular focus on assisting technology companies navigate evolving national security laws related to artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers.
For more than 20 years, Shiva has provided comprehensive advice to technology and defense companies on U.S. export controls & sanctions laws, including as related to AI and data centers, ITAR consent agreements, subpoenas and other high-stakes matters. In addition, Shiva advises clients on export control requirements, helps to audit their current programs and enhance compliance processes to meet government expectations.
Shiva routinely leads government investigations and develops practical and actionable export compliance programs on behalf of Akin’s major clients. Shiva also assists clients in other white collar defense & government investigations matters as related to export controls & sanctions. Alongside Akin colleagues who previously served as Assistant U.S. Attorneys in California, Shiva also advises on enforcement and voluntary disclosures.
As co-head of Akin’s technology group, Shiva has a leading-edge practice at the intersection of emerging technology, regulation and capital. She helps companies facing new regulations and restrictions as related to privacy & data protection, AI and data centers, quantum computing and cryptocurrency, among other areas.
Beyond her client work, Shiva chairs Akin’s Women Firmwide Resource Group in Los Angeles. In this role, she helped facilitate a mentoring program and developed the California Women’s Initiative, a series of events that bring women lawyers together across the firm’s West Coast offices.
Gregory S. Dunlap, Senior Regulatory Advisor, Akin Gump:
Greg draws on his more than 25 years of experience directing national security investigations and global trade compliance enforcement to provide strategic enforcement guidance and investigative support to clients. Prior to joining Akin, Greg served as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) in Los Angeles, where he led complex and high-profile administrative and criminal investigations into violations of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and U.S. sanctions programs. In this capacity, Greg coordinated enforcement actions with the Department of Justice, intelligence community partners, and foreign counterparts, giving him a deep operational understanding of how U.S. enforcement agencies identify, evaluate, and pursue potential violations.
Before his role as SAC, Greg held a range of national security positions within the Departments of Commerce and Justice, including Assistant Special Agent in Charge and Special Agent at OEE, Senior Intelligence Advisor at the DOJ National Security Division (NSD), and Intelligence Program Manager at the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, where he oversaw intelligence support for all 93 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide. He previously served as a Counterintelligence Agent and HUMINT Collector in the U.S. Army, where he first learned the investigative, interview, and sourcing techniques that inform his approach to complex international investigations today. His extensive background across government equips him to help clients anticipate risk, understand investigative posture, and navigate sensitive national security and enforcement matters.
Panelists
Nicole Smith, JD, LCB
Nicole Smith currently works as Senior Global Trade Counsel with Google LLC. Nicole has nearly 20 years of experience in trade compliance. Nicole is a NY Licensed Attorney, CPA, and US Customs Broker, with a strong track record of building and leading global compliance programs and hands-on experience across EMEA, APAC, and North America.
Nicole began her career as an Accountant at KPMG. Within KPMG, she worked on the Trade & Customs team for 8 years gaining a breadth of experience assisting clients through US Customs audits, filing disclosures, applying for duty savings measures and implementing compliance processes. While working full time at KPMG in New York, Nicole pursued a law degree at Fordham University and passed the NY bar in 2012. Nicole joined Google’s Trade Legal team in March 2014, working first as the sole legal advisor for EMEA trade matters and then transitioning to a global role focused on trade legal risk assessments and audits. This global role leverages Nicole’s accounting background, with a focus on utilizing data to quantify risks and opportunities.
Malori DiPierro, MA, LCB
Malori DiPierro is a seasoned Global Trade and Compliance expert and a Licensed United States Customs Broker with over a decade of experience navigating the complexities of international commerce and mitigating import risks in the IT and ICT sectors. Currently serving as a Senior Trade Specialist for Google LLC, Malori partners closely with engineering and product teams to integrate trade requirements into their global supply chain. Her focus is on proactive tariff mitigation and executing high-value duty-saving opportunities, often through adoption of AI-based workflows and the creative application of AI tools.
Prior to her tenure at Google, Malori held leadership roles at Cisco, where she managed global customs compliance processes, valuation matters, and business savings initiatives. Her expertise spans core compliance areas such as HTS classification, country of origin, and strategic trade programs. She holds a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and is a published author on trade reforms in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
Venue Information
Getting there: Morgan Lewis is located at 1400 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, in the Stanford Research Park corridor. From 280, take the Page Mill Road exit and head east - the building is about a mile down on your right. From 101, take Oregon Expressway/Page Mill Road west, cross El Camino Real, and continue about two miles - it'll be on your left.
Free parking is available in the lot behind the building. Follow the driveway in and continue around to the back of the building.
