Stephen Migala

Stephen is a counsel in Goodwin’s Global Trade practice and its Business Law Department. He collaborates with companies ranging from early-series startups to established global brands on international trade, investment, and national security matters. 

Prior to joining the firm, Stephen served as the lead attorney in the State Department for export and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) matters, and advised its administering agency, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), for over five years on all manner of regulatory, classification, licensing, compliance, administrative law, and litigation issues. 

Stephen also regularly worked across the interagency, including with Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on various Export Administration Regulation (EAR) issues, and with DOJ’s National Security Division on investigations and enforcement.  Leveraging his knowledge of how agencies work and their usual considerations, Stephen delivers tailored insights and practical solutions to his clients.

Additionally, Stephen advises on other cross-border considerations such as DOJ’s Data Security Program (DSP), Treasury’s Outbound Investment Security Program (OISP), its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) economic sanctions, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Combining his legal experience with his service as a former Air Force pilot, Stephen has a background uniquely suited to serve companies across many sectors, including in the space, aviation, defense, and software industries, and with various emerging technologies. He also is an experienced litigator and a former American Bar Association (ABA) Section on Administrative Law scholar-fellow, which helps him provide a full range of legal, regulatory, and risk-based perspectives.