Washington D.C. (April 20, 2007) - Washington College of Law and the International Trade Law Society (ITLS) has given its first annual Distinguished Alumni honor to Vinson & Elkins LLP Counsel Matt Nicely for “his commitment to foster and promote the success of law students” in the practice of international trade law.

The award was presented to Mr. Nicely by WCL Dean Claudio Grossman and the ITLS leaders at a dinner Thursday evening in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Nicely, a member of the firm’s International Trade Practice Group, is a 1991 graduate of the WCL. He specializes in trade remedy laws, World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement and other trade policy disputes.  He also manages investigations and reviews before the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission on behalf of producers, exporters, importers and users of steel, agricultural and other products from countries in the Americas and Asia. Mr. Nicely also advises governments around the world on WTO compliance and dispute settlement.

Matt Simpson, current president and co-founder of the ITLS, said that when the organization decided to create the distinguished alumni award last year, a list of more than 20 WCL alumni were identified as leading role models for International Trade Law students. From there, the list was narrowed to three attorneys who the group felt were the “best of the best.” 

“When we reviewed the names, we knew that there was no question that Mr. Nicely deserved to be the first recipient of this award,” said Mr. Simpson. “Mr. Nicely"s work on the ABA Steering Committee on International Trade Law and seeing him regularly interact with students clearly shows that he is someone who goes above and beyond to engage and encourage those around him.”

The ITLS is a student organization at WCL founded in the fall of 2005. The organization was created after the founding students recognized a need for a student organization focusing not only on International issues, but specifically International trade. Since its inception two years ago, the ITLS has grown to become one of the largest student-run organizations on campus, with over 200 members. 

In the fall, Mr. Nicely will begin teaching a class at WCL entitled “The American Trade Regime.” Additionally, he will take over in September as Chair of the ABA International Law Section’s International Trade Committee.

For more information, please contact Ashley Lyle at (713) 758-2052 or via e-mail at alyle@velaw.com.