Speaker Bio

Nicole Simonian
International Trade Practice Co-Leader, Asia Coordinator, & Partner
Bryan Cave LLP
Los Angeles & Singapore

Nicole Simonian is International Trade Practice Co-Leader of the firm's International Trade Client Service Group. She also serves as the firm's Asia Coordinator, responsible for managing strategic growth and other initiatives throughout Asia in connection with the Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore offices. In addition, Ms. Simonian has led the firm's Asia Employment Practice for more than seven years.  

Ms. Simonian has traditionally advised companies from emerging growth to multinational conglomerates on their current corporate structures and global business expansion throughout Asia (including China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand). She also has experience working with companies in Latin America and Europe. Her clients span a number of industries, including aerospace, personal care, semiconductor assembly and testing, food and beverage, medical devices, retail, apparel and textiles, advertising, and outsourcing services. Her experience also includes working with companies to ensure and manage compliance risks with government authorities in Asia on issues dealing with investment regulations, customs and trade, and the FCPA.  

With her background in cross-border transactions, Ms. Simonian recognized the need to support her clients in mobilizing and managing global workforces in conjunction with companies expanding and increasing their international footprint. Her unique experience and background in corporate, trade, and international employment law provides a holistic approach for her clients in considering the regulatory environment in both the domestic and international context. She regularly advises clients with respect to international employment issues including day-to-day compliance, strategic alliances, restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and post-acquisition integration. Ms. Simonian has significant experience assisting companies in developing and maintaining international workforces and structuring global mobility and expatriate processes to address the growing need to move talent and goods across borders.

Ms. Simonian frequently speaks and conducts roundtable and panel discussions on international compliance issues before domestic and global in-house legal counsel. She also serves as the mentor coordinator for the firm’s Los Angeles office and as the women’s initiative office liaison, having previously led the women’s initiative firmwide for more than seven years. In addition, she is active in the Future Leaders Program for the Pacific Council on International Policy, an international affairs organization focused on public policy issues impacting the West Coast. In this role, she works alongside a select group of prominent civic and business leaders to develop and implement strategies to prepare younger members for international public service.