Ms. Schmidt’s practice focuses on international trade, business, advocacy and government relations. In her work with Manatt, and prior to that with the U.S. Diplomatic Service, she has developed effective strategies to address international opportunities and complex disputes, with experience as an advocate, negotiator and public speaker.

Ms. Schmidt assists domestic and multinational companies with investment and trade issues before agencies of the U.S. government as well as other governments, with a focus on Latin America. In addition to developing and implementing strategies to navigate government approval and regulatory processes relative to cross-border business and investment, she often addresses matters involving the World Trade Organization, the North American Free Trade Agreement, bilateral trade and investment agreements, export controls and compliance, and immigration. On behalf of domestic and foreign clients, she has addressed the challenges of policy and compliance relative to international financial transactions and operations as well as the policy and practical issues connected with the regulation of international financial transactions by the various governments and multilateral organizations. For clients, she has devised strategies to address international disputes, to improve relations with U.S. and foreign government officials and to create new international business opportunities. She has made presentations on regulatory constraints, services sectors and emerging technologies to foreign government officials and private sector groups.

Ms. Schmidt also works with domestic and international companies and organizations on U.S. advocacy with the U.S. Congress and Administration as well as others who influence policy. Her work extends to the representation of foreign business and exporter associations in Washington, the interests of foreign governments before the U.S. Congress, and organizations before State legislative committees.  Ms. Schmidt also has worked with foreign governments on a range of policy and business issues in advocacy and awareness-building activities.

Ms. Schmidt's engagement with Latin America stems from her time with the U.S. diplomatic service. While with the U.S. Foreign Service, she participated in multilateral and bilateral negotiations, managed the Department of State's intellectual property rights portfolio in Latin America and developed IP enforcement efforts with private sector and government entities world-wide, and served as an Economic Officer in Bogota, Colombia, where she was responsible for trade relations, fisheries, telecommunications, science & environment, civil aviation, and agricultural trade issues, and a Consular/Personnel officer in Mexico City, Mexico. While on detail to a leading telecommunications enterprise, she managed public affairs matters for the Andean region and Caribbean.