Brian Bombassaro advises on legal and policy aspects of international trade, investment, and finance. In October 2025, he returned to Arnold & Porter after serving as International Trade Counsel to the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).
In private practice, Brian integrates legal, business, and political analysis into strategic counsel and advocacy for clients. His experience spans international disputes and arbitration, government relations, and sovereign finance.
Brian holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served on the Yale Law Journal, an M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School, and B.S.B.A. and B.A. degrees from the University of Florida. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
In his international trade practice, Brian advises on international trade laws and policies, including tariffs and regulatory barriers to market access for goods, services, and investment. Brian served as International Trade Counsel to three Chairmen of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee: Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He advised each Senator on legal and political aspects of international trade, such as U.S.-China relations, tariffs under national security laws, and trade negotiations and agreements, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
In his international investment practice, Brian serves as counsel to sovereign governments and private businesses on foreign investment law and dispute resolution. His practice includes strategic advice in negotiations and advocacy in international arbitration cases, often before the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
In his international finance practice, Brian has advised sovereign borrowers, as well as creditors to sovereigns, on financial transactions and debt enforcement and restructuring. Brian has counseled sovereigns on executing capital markets transactions, credit agreements, and financial services contracts. For several hedge funds, he has advised on legal and political aspects of sovereign debt enforcement, litigation, and restructuring, including with respect to liabilities of Argentina, Belize, Carinthia (Austrian province), Ecuador, and Puerto Rico.
Experience
- U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on legal and political aspects of international trade, such as U.S.-China relations; tariffs under national security and international emergency laws; trade negotiations and agreements; digital trade taxes and regulation; investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS); trade agreements and international tax laws; U.S. policy toward the World Trade Organization (WTO); OECD accession; and Senate review, confirmation, and oversight of presidential nominees and appointees.
- Multinational Technology Business on developments in U.S. policies on trade in semiconductors and related technology products.
- U.S. Biotechnology Business on foreign legislative proposals to modify intellectual property rights and relevant international trade agreements and organizations.
- Critical Minerals Producer on developments in U.S. policies concerning trade in and domestic production of critical minerals.
- Multinational Metals Manufacturer on developments in U.S. policies on trade in metals and metal products, including Section 232 trade restrictions.
- Asian, European, and Latin American Governments on strengthening and deepening bilateral trade and economic relations with the United States.
- U.S. Financial Institution concerning WTO GATS obligations relevant to proposed measures by the European Union.
- U.S. Metals Manufacturer concerning United States international trade and customs laws applicable to processed metals.
Perspectives
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Yale Law School, 2012
- M.P.P., Harvard Kennedy School, 2008
- B.S.B.A., B.A., University of Florida, 2006
Admissions
- District of Columbia
Government & Military Service
- U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
Activities
- Member, Bretton Woods Committee
Languages
- Portuguese
- Spanish