John Cheretis is the Chief Counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (OCC/IS).  In support of BIS’s mission, attorneys in OCC/IS manage a diverse portfolio that includes responsibility for pursuing export control and anti-boycott enforcement cases, providing legal advice concerning export control, Section 232 tariff, and information and communication technologies and services (ICTS) programs, and supporting the Department of Justice in a variety of litigation matters. 

Before joining OCC/IS, John was an associate at a large U.S.-based international law firm for over seven years.  In private practice, he counseled corporate clients on a range of complex trade and national security issues.  John specialized in assisting clients with navigating compliance, investigation, and enforcement matters that implicated export controls, tariffs, economic sanctions, government contracting, and foreign direct investment authorities.  John has also assisted companies with structuring complex cross-border transactions and projects. 

More recently, John was Senior Counsel for the Department of Commerce’s Office of the General Counsel, where he provided strategic legal support to the Office of the Secretary and the various bureaus within the Department of Commerce.

John received his law degree from American University Washington College of Law, and his undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University. 

Visit: Office of the Chief Counsel for Bureau of Industry and Security