Clay Stuart Nelson

Clay S. Nelson is an Associate Attorney with Givens & Johnston, PLLC.  Clay has served as a Law Clerk for Givens & Johnston, PLLC, since joining the firm in February 2014, prior to licensure as an Attorney in November 2015. He is also a native Texan, having grown up in Austin, Texas.

While at Givens & Johnston, PLLC, Clay has assisted and worked closely with Firm attorneys representing clients on numerous matters, including creating or augmenting compliance programs, tariff classification and valuation of merchandise, Customs audits, importer self-audits, prior disclosures, coastwise trade regulations, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, complying with embargoes and sanctions, export licensing, conducting due diligence regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), assisting with False Claims Act (FCA) litigation, etc.  In addition, he has also assisted in various enforcement actions including petitions, penalties, seizures & forfeitures, and administrative inquiries including Customs Notices of Action, FTA verifications, and Summons.

His experience involves laws and regulations of numerous agencies, including:

• Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protections (CBP);
• Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS);
• Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA);
• Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census;
• Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC);
• State Department, Directorate Defense Trade Controls (DDTC);
• Department of Transportation (DOT);
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA);
• United States International Trade Commission (USITC);
• Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB);
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
• Consumer Product Safety Administration (CPSC); and others.

Clay also has experience dealing with a wide range of merchandise including various equipment, machinery, and materials used in the exploration and production of oil & gas; aluminum; steel; precious metals, food products (e.g., honey, frozen shrimp, seeds, peanuts, alcoholic beverages, etc.); furniture; consumer electronics; solar cells; and many others.

Prior to his work with Givens & Johnston, PLLC, Clay interned for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and various state and federal representatives.