Charlene Barshefsky (Russian: Баршевский or Barshevskiy) served as United States Trade Representative, the country's top trade negotiator, from 1997 to 2001. Prior to that, she was the Deputy USTR from 1993 to 1997.

She was nominated by President Clinton to serve with Rufus Yerxa and Richard W. Fisher as Deputy U.S. Trade Representatives. In 1999, she was the primary negotiator with China's Zhu Rongji, laying out the terms for China's eventual entry into the World Trade Organization.

She was a partner and co-chair of the International Practice Group at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson. She is currently (as of 2007) a partner at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. She has written and lectured extensively on both U.S. and foreign trade laws and public procurement regimes.

She has been a Vice Chair of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association as well as a member of its governing council and chair of its Publications Committee.

Education

She attended the University of Wisconsin, where she obtained a B.A., double majoring in English & Political Science. She earned her law degree (J.D.) from The Catholic University of America.

External links

• Harry Walker Association Biography