Scott Johnston

About Scott Johnston

Problem solver.

Experience

1. Co-owner

   Givens & Johnston Pllc

   Oct 1988 — Present · Houston, TX, US

   Co-manage Givens & Johnston, PLLC, a 7-attorney boutique practice located in Houston, TX, USA, focused on U.S. import/export regulation issues. I began working for Robert Givens in 1988, joined his practice as an associate attorney in 1993, and became a co-owner in 2001. With a legacy practice dating back to 1974, G&J attorneys have more than 120 combined years of experience with Customs and International Trade Law.The firm assists its importer/exporter clients cope with the U.S. regulation of their movements of merchandise or equipment into or out of the U.S. G&J represents companies and individuals before U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Dept. of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and Dept. of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), just to name a few. These government actions may include fines & penalties, seizures & forfeitures, and civil & criminal investigations. The firm regularly represents clients at administrative and judicial levels. G&J assists clients with various matters, including tariff classifications, Free Trade Agreements/Preferential Tariff Treatment programs, valuation, country of origin, AD/CVD, etc.). The firm assists with the creation and implementation of import and export compliance programs (e.g, establishing procedures in accordance with CBP, BIS, DDTC, and OFAC laws and regulations) to limit any legal exposure with respect to its business and transactions involving Customs and International Trade matters.The world of international trade is rapidly changing, and G&J has a history of excellence in providing high-quality, results-oriented, and cost-effective legal advice to the international trade community as well as helping clients interpret and manage the complexities of legislative and judicial decisions affecting their business.

Education

• Rice University

  B.A., Philosophy and Psychology

  1984 — 1987

• San Jacinto College

  A.A., General

  1982 — 1984

• University of Houston Law Center

  J.D., Law

  1990 — 1993

Skills

• Import Export
• Fcpa
• International Logistics
• Logistics
• Intellectual Property
• Export
• International Law
• International Trade
• International Business
• International Trade Law
• Customs Regulations
• Sanction
• Import
• Government
• Export Controls
• Trade Compliance
• Cbp
• Shipping
• Licensing
• Nafta
• Litigation