
John R. Liebman
FAX: 213.243.6330
Experience
John R. Liebman's practice emphasizes international trade regulation, technology transfer, and multinational business transactions, advising manufacturers, exporters, importers, international trade service companies, and software developers.
In the area of international trade regulation, Mr. Liebman advises clients on export laws, unfair trade practices, and anti-bribery laws, including those facing compliance issues and enforcement actions in these areas. His clients include aerospace and defense contractors, subcontractors, and academic and research institutions. He also advises financial institutions offering credit support to exporters and importers, including credit insurance and guaranty programs offered by the Export-Import Bank, and has vast experience in international leasing of capital goods.
Prior to his private law career, Mr. Liebman served in Washington, D.C., with the Agency for International Development, Department of State, first as counsel and later as program director. He is a recipient of the National Order of the Southern Cross from the Brazilian Government and is listed in 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America for his work in International Trade and Finance Law.
From 1983 through 1990, Mr. Liebman was an elected Commissioner at the California State World Trade Commission, during which time he acted primarily as the state’s trade lobbyist. He was also a member of the Southern California District Export Council from 1974 through 1991, including two terms as Chairman of the Council. In 1989, his contributions to the Southern California trade community were recognized by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce with the prestigious Stanley T. Olafson Bronze Plaque. As an recognized resource in U.S. export controls, Mr. Liebman served as a member of the President's Export Council Subcommittee on Encryption (PECSENC) by appointment of the Secretary of Commerce from 1998-2001, and served as a member of both the President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration (PECSEA) and the Defense Trade Advisory Group, U.S. Department of State. He is an advisor to the Pardee Center at RAND Corporation, and has been a lecturer at the UCLA School of Law and an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School.
Mr. Liebman is a past chair of the State Bar International Law Section, as well as the International Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Widely published in legal and business journals, he is co-author (with William A. Root and Rozsel M. Thomsen II) of United States Export Controls, a comprehensive reference work on U.S. export regulations published by Aspen/Law & Business, currently in its fourth edition.
In addition to his professional activities, since 1980, Mr. Liebman has been a director and member of the executive committee of the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic, a leading provider of mental health services to children in South Central Los Angeles, and is a past Chairman of that organization. Prior to entering law school, he served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Education
- J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1961
- A.B., Dartmouth College, 1956
Admitted
- California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
- U.S. Court of International Trade
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. Supreme Court
Publications:
- "Regulatory Compliance In Tough Times: There Is No Magic Bullet," (co-authored with Kevin Lombardo and Virginia Gomez), February 2009
- "The United States Of Earth," Barrons, September 2008
- "A Guide To Exports Control For The Non-Specialist," 28 Loy. L.A. Int'l & Comp. L. Rev. 497, 2006
- “China Trade Export Controls and the New Catch-All Regulation,” Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, April 2006
- "Export Update: Bureau of Industry and Security Issues Guidance on Settlement of Administrative Enforcement Cases," Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, January 2004 (co-authored with Brett Harris)
- "Scientific Research and Technical Data Export Controls: When Two Worlds Collide," California International Practitioner, 2002
- "United States Export Controls" (co-author with William A. Root and Roszel C. Thomsen II) published by Wolters Kluwer/Law & Business, fifth edition
Seminars and Presentations:
- "Regulatory Compliance In Tough Times: There Is No Magic Bullet," (co-presented with Kevin Lombardo), February 2009
Professional Activities:
- American Bar Association (Section of International Law)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (past chair, International Law Section)
- State Bar of California (past chair and member, International Law Section; member and/or advisor, Executive Committee)




