Bill's experience with the Chief Counsel’s office encompassed litigating numerous complex international trade cases, including disputes before the World Trade Organization and NAFTA binational panels.  Bill participated in negotiations with other governments on trade issues.  He provided training, both for Import Administration officials and private attorneys, in the administration of Import Administration’s APO system.

Prior to joining Commerce, Bill worked in private practice in areas such as Customs Law, NAFTA compliance, small business legal issues and workers’ compensation. He served for one year as a judicial law clerk for the D.C. Court of Appeals, working on various cases involving criminal law, torts and child custody.

Bill earned his J.D. from Temple University in 1998. He earned a Ll.M. in Transnational Law from Temple in 2000. He also holds a B.A. with a dual major of Political Science and History from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Comparative Politics from the American University.

William J. Kovatch, Jr. has practiced international trade law for over eight years, mostly with the Office of Chief Counsel for Import Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  During his time at Commerce, Bill focused primarily on antidumping and countervailing duty law. Bill also served as the Customs Liaison Attorney and the APO Coordinating Attorney.