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Kimberly Stietz helps solve client's toughest global challenges by providing strategic advice and counseling at the intersection of law and policy. Her practice is concentrated on complex public policy challenges with a particular focus on business and human rights. Ms. Stietz has developed an expertise on import restrictions levied by the U.S. Custom’s and Border Protection related to forced labor and routinely advises clients on existing and anticipated Work Release Orders. She also actively monitors human rights legislation on Capitol Hill and assists companies in supply chain mapping to identify risks and associated due diligence measures. As an active member of the Africa practice and her time living and working on the continent in prior years, Ms. Stietz has specialized experience advising clients doing business in Africa.
- Representation of a global pharmaceutical company facing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Representation of a pharmaceutical distribution company in a civil investigation.
Pro Bono
- Representation of a nurse practitioner facing Controlled Substances Act and money laundering charges.
- Representation of African non-profit organizations on corporate structure, tax, and employment matters.
Memberships and Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Constitution Society
- American Society of International Law
Previous Experience
- African Development Bank, consultant (2016)
- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Election Protection Hotline Coordinator (2016)
- Special Assistant to the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (2010)
- Director of International Public Policy for a non-profit focused on conflict and development in Africa (2005-2009)
- Legislative Correspondent, Senator Russell D. Feingold (2004-2005)
February 17, 2021, Covington Alert
The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have each taken significant actions in recent weeks in response to reports of oppression of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China. As discussed in previous client alerts, the U.S. government has repeatedly stated that the Chinese government is engaged in ...
January 28, 2021, Cov Africa
Can African governments head off a sustained spike in the spread of COVID-19 and recover economically in 2021? How will the Biden administration engage the continent? Will companies implement more effective due diligence efforts in their supply chains to prevent human rights abuses? What impact will efforts to battle corruption and mitigate climate change ...
October 23, 2020, Covington Alert
Since Covington's last global Business and Human Rights update, there have been significant developments in national, regional, and international regulatory and enforcement initiatives, which have continued to exert pressure on companies to develop or enhance their processes for identifying and mitigating human rights risks in their global operations and value ...
September 17, 2020, Covington Alert
On September 14, 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced five Withhold Release Orders (WROs) against products from certain factories and companies doing business primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China based on allegations of forced labor. CBP and other U.S. government departments and agencies have repeatedly stated ...
June 12, 2020, Covington Alert
On June 8, 2020, the House of Representatives introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (hereinafter “the Act” or “the bill”) to “hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.” We anticipate a House committee markup the week of June 15 and a House floor vote ...
Register Now: Law and Crisis Management Event with The Honorable Eric Holder, Wednesday June 3rd
June 2, 2020, Cov Africa
Join us tomorrow, June 3, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for a webinar featuring The Honorable Eric Holder, 82nd Attorney General of the United States, to discuss the topic of Law and Crisis Management: Working with Lawyers in Business, Government, and Society to Manage the Challenges of COVID-19. You may register for this...… Continue Reading
May 29, 2020, Covington Alert
In this update, we provide an overview of a number of recent international developments in the area of business and human rights ("BHR"). While public policy and corporate agendas have slowed in the past several months as a result of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been recent indications that key stakeholders—including governments, ...
March 18, 2020, Cov Africa
The Coronavirus (hereinafter “COVID-19”) is upending lives around the world—equally in developed and developing countries. Some are already affected by the deadly impact of COVID-19 (e.g. China, Italy, and France), while others’ lives have been altered due to efforts taken to “flatten the curve,” to ensure hospital systems are not overrun with patients in ...
February 3, 2020, Cov Africa
Commencement of the AfCFTA. The landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is slated to go into force on July 1, 2020. When fully implemented, the trade agreement will eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, and substantially increase intra-regional trade to volumes worth over $3.3 trillion. Twenty-nine countries have deposited their instruments of ...
February 6, 2019, Cov Africa
Africa’s Growth Prospects. Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 3.8 percent in 2019, which is a significant improvement over last year’s regional growth rate of 2.6 percent. Excluding the continent’s largest economies (Angola, Nigeria and South Africa), which are growing collectively at an average of 2.5 percent, the aggregate growth ...
October 29, 2018, Cov Africa
In 1998, China announced its “go out” or “go global” policy aimed at encouraging its enterprises to invest overseas. In 2013 this policy was reinforced with China’s introduction of its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) or “Belt & Road” initiative, which seeks to enhance development and trade routes in the region, connecting China with other...… Continue Reading
October 10, 2018, Cov Africa
Over the last several decades, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by multinational companies has become a critical engine of economic growth in Africa, with FDI in the extractive industries particularly significant. A common response by local governments in Africa to increased FDI is “local content” requirements, which are designed to ensure the participation of ...
June 29, 2018, Cov Africa
On June 3, 2018, French tycoon Vincent Bolloré warned investors that Groupe Bolloré—a logistics provider with extensive operations in former French colonies in Africa—may suffer negative commercial and financial consequences as a result of a corruption investigation initiated by French authorities. Mr. Bolloré was questioned for two days by French police in ...
January 25, 2018, Cov Africa
In this blog, Covington’s Africa practice highlights ten key issues to watch in Africa in 2018. U.S. Policy: The derogatory remarks that President Trump made about Africans and Haitians, which he denies having said, create a negative image for the U.S. across the region as the year begins. Nevertheless, the administration will push forward on...… Continue ...
Covington Welcomes Liberian President Sirleaf for Discussion on Emerging Public Leaders Initiative
December 11, 2017, Cov Africa
On December 7, 2017, Covington’s Africa practice welcomed Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for a roundtable discussion on how to expand the training and support of civil service leaders in Africa through Emerging Public Leaders (“EPL”). President Sirleaf was the first woman to be inaugurated as president of an African nation in 2006. President ...
Practices
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 2012
- cum laude
- Study Abroad: European University Institute
- Moot Court Board
- Jessup International Moot Court Competition
- Foreign Area Language Studies Fellowship (French)
Luther College, B.A., 2003
- Politics and Religion of Development
- magna cum laude
- Grant recipient to organize conference on global HIV/AIDS crisis
- Study Abroad, University of Dar es Salaam (August 2001- January 2002)