Christopher B. Stagg

Christopher Stagg solves complex and high-stakes export control challenges by uniquely integrating three critical perspectives into a unified strategy: former export controls regulator, export controls litigator, and export controls enforcement defense attorney.

Christopher shaped export control laws from inside government. As an export controls regulator, he was an architect of the current regulatory framework. He was a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and the deputy lead for Export Control Reform. In that role, he made significant changes to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), including to the entire U.S. Munitions List. He also authored the U.S. policy for determining which items belong on the U.S. Munitions List, authoritatively interpreted the ITAR, and substantially reformed the interagency commodity jurisdiction procedure. In addition, he advised on hundreds of civil and criminal investigations.

Christopher has also shaped export control laws from outside government. He has rare export control litigation experience that includes securing the only U.S. Court of Appeals decision to reject DDTC's interpretation of the ITAR – a unanimous decision – along with district court rulings that the government did not appeal. In that litigation, the government also conceded that First Amendment strict scrutiny applies to the ITAR's technical data controls, and the government abandoned a related rulemaking. Additionally, he originated a novel legal argument that 19 state attorneys general used to successfully challenge the ITAR's statutory authority, a decision the government likewise did not appeal.

Christopher’s advocacy before the regulatory agencies has produced similarly significant results. For example, he led the defense of a contested proposed charging letter, resulting in one of the most favorable settlements in ITAR enforcement history. He has secured no-penalty resolutions in egregious cases and advised six companies on navigating their consent agreements to secure closure. He has also led a consent agreement jurisdiction and classification review under intense government scrutiny, with the regulators approving his methodology without changes. His rulemaking advocacy has led to significant regulatory changes and the government abandoning proposed rules.

Beyond shaping the law, Christopher pioneered the multidisciplinary, high-stakes export control practice that is now widely seen across major law firms. He was previously a partner at an AmLaw 50 firm, where he led this practice and founded its ITAR & Defense Trade Compliance group.

Christopher contributes to the field through bar leadership, scholarship, and public commentary. He co-chairs the American Bar Association's export controls and economic sanctions committee and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is also a contributing author to the leading treatise United States Export Controls (Law Journal Press). He frequently speaks at events such as the Society for International Affairs and the American Conference Institute. He is featured or quoted in leading publications, including The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, and has been profiled by Export Compliance Manager and The Export Practitioner, which describes him as a "trailblazing attorney."

Before his legal career, Christopher was a reporter for Jane’s Defence Weekly and a military analyst at the strategic advisory section of Jane’s Information Group.