Michael G. Hodes

Of Counsel

mhodes@rocktradelaw.com
tel: (312) 553-1441

Legal Experience

Michael began his legal career as an Assistant Regional Counsel of Customs in the Office of the Regional Counsel of Customs in 1977. Since 1980, he has advised private clients on various customs and international trade regulatory issues including tariff classification, valuation, country of origin determination, trade agreements, country of origin marking, admissibility of merchandise, penalty and liquidated damages enforcement, seizures and forfeitures. He also represents clients in administrative proceedings including protests, prior disclosures of violations, requests for binding rulings, antidumping scope determinations and customs compliance audits. Finally, he advises clients in the area of export regulation, including issues relating to licensing, technology transfers, “deemed export” and embargoes. He has been a partner in the customs and international trade law firm of Hodes Keating & Pilon (or its predecessor firm) from 1987 until its merger with Rock Trade Law, LLC in March, 2019, where he continues to practice as trade counsel. He is a frequent speaker on customs and trade issues, having presented before the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association as well as other organizations.

Admissions Information

Michael is admitted to the Illinois bar (1976), the District Court for Northern District of Illinois (1976), the U.S. Court of International Trade (1980), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1982), and the United States Supreme Court (1996).

Bar Associations

Michael is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and is a charter member of the CBA’s Former Customs and International Trade Law Committee, having served as both its vice-chairman (1982) and chairman (1983, 2007).

Education Summary

He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (1973) and the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law (1976).

Education

  • JD, Loyola University School of Law

  • BA, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

Admissions

  • Illinois


Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of International Trade

  • Northern District of Illinois

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

  • U.S. Supreme Court