ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Alexis Foster is a Nebraska native. She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, in political science and French from Illinois College. During her time at Illinois College, she studied abroad in Pau, France where she completed an intensive language program at the local university.
After graduating from Illinois College, Ms. Foster attended law school at the University of
Nebraska - College of Law, where she earned her J.D. with a concentration in International Law and National Security. During her time in law school, she traveled to Xi'an and Beijing, China to attend lectures on comparative Chinese law. She was also a representative for the College of Law on the Executive Vice Chancellor's Student Advisory Board. During her final year of law school, she also participated in the Children's Justice Clinic and under the supervision of a licensed attorney, represented children as their guardian ad litem in the juvenile court system.
At Mark Barnes & Associates, Ms. Foster advises federal firearms licensee clients and other private firearms owners on regulatory compliance issues related to the Gun Control Act, National Firearms Act, and explosives laws. Her work focuses on firearms compliance counseling, import and export control licensing and classification issues, and firearms and explosives legislation.
Ms. Foster is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Brady Toensing is a partner with diGenova & Toensing. Mr. Toensing obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from Georgetown University. Prior to law school, he served as a Legislative and Special Assistant to United States Senator Warren B. Rudman. He also served as a Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy. He has been an attorney for twenty-five years and has represented companies, individuals and other entities in a wide range of complex civil and criminal matters, including administrative, judicial, and federal agency proceedings. These cases have involved the federal Gun Control Act, the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Mr. Toensing is a consulting counsel on federal civil and criminal litigation, internal investigations, and corporate compliance programs.
A native of Montpelier, Vermont, with personal expertise in firearms and firearms technology, Christopher Thomas joined Mark Barnes & Associates as an attorney in March 2007. At the firm, Mr. Thomas advises clients on regulatory compliance matters related to the Gun Control Act, National Firearms Act and explosives laws with an expanding practice in defense article import and export issues related to the Arms Export Control Act. He is admitted to practice in Arizona and the District of Columbia, as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court.
As a firearms owner, instructor, armorer, competitor and avid bow hunter, Mr. Thomas understands the firearms industry and its products, as well as the sport and recreational side to ownership. He holds a number of instructor, armorer, range officer and competitor credentials - a background that helps him provide the firm's clients with superior service.
Bringing personal insight and appreciation to his practice, he facilitates solutions to complex legal matters in coordination with regulatory agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Directorate of Defense Trade Controls; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Tax and Trade Bureau.
Mr. Thomas received his Juris Doctor degree in May 2000 from Vermont Law School in South Royalton, Vermont. During law school, in recognition of his appellate-brief-writing and oral-argument skills, he was appointed to the Environmental Moot Court Advisory Board. After graduating, Mr. Thomas worked in corporate law, focusing on litigation, and later served as a hearing officer for the Texas Workforce Commission.
He has an associate degree in applied science in fisheries and wildlife management from the State University of New York-Cobleskill, as well as a bachelor's degree in biology from Johnson State College in Vermont, with numerous undergraduate academic honors.
Job Titles:
- President at Suchan International Consulting, LLC
Greg Suchan is the President at Suchan International Consulting, LLC.,, following a 34- year U.S. Foreign Service career at the State Department, with foreign assignments including Mexico, London, Pakistan, Denmark and NATO headquarters. Mr. Suchan completed his service from 2000 to 2007 as deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he worked to provide diplomatic support for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, obtaining base access for U.S. forces, building the international political-military coalition for the war on terrorism, and providing daily liaison with the Defense Department. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Suchan oversaw the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, which regulates U.S. defense exports. He is an expert on the Foreign Military Sales program, the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Mr. Suchan has a bachelor's degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and attended the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy. He advises the firm and its clients on foreign policy and export licensing issues, as well as on dealings with the departments of Defense and State.
Job Titles:
- U.S. Export Control and Compliance Consultant
Jason Knowles brings an uncommon depth of ITAR and EAR understanding, awareness of related U.S. government processing, international implications awareness, and an ability to span, connect, and implement strategy to task and back across business activities related to U.S. regulatory export control and compliance. Jason is a former State Department/DDTC Senior Defense Trade Control Analyst, a U.S. Air Force retired combat veteran, and a U.S. Export Control and Compliance consultant across multiple industries. While with the State Department, Jason reviewed and audited ITAR export applications with a combined value of over $42.5 Billion for approval and/or compliance. He renovated ITAR Agreement analyst training and improved ITAR Agreement analyst review processes and tools. Also, Jason frequently spoke on behalf of the U.S. government to U.S. and foreign government officials and industry groups, and individuals. Since departing the State Department, and in addition to providing business operations services related to ITAR control, compliance, authorization advice, and services, he has developed EAR expertise to expert levels so to support business operations with multi-jurisdictional control and compliance, export authorization strategy development, assistance with implementing those strategies, and in the development, assessment, and improvement of Export Compliance Programs. Jason's experiences and expertise include the ITAR, EAR, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), export-related elements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes related to the Automated Export System (AESDirect) and Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing, in addition to training, education, planning, operations, and assessment.
Job Titles:
- Member of Rhoads & Reed PLLC
Jim Reed is a member of Rhoads & Reed PLLC, Attorneys at Law, in Washington, D.C. His practice concentrates on national security issues, including U.S. export controls on military and commercial products and technology. Mr. Reed advises U.S. and foreign clients on export control issues, including compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, and economic sanctions and embargo regulations administered by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. He has served as a U.S. Army officer and held a number of senior positions in the defense policy arena, including director of the White House Situation Room, in addition to serving for two terms on the State Department's Defense Trade Advisory Group. Mr. Reed has a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a bachelor's degree with high honors from the University of Michigan. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Mr. Reed is a consulting counsel on export controls, helping the firm and its clients develop export compliance programs and responding to export enforcement issues at the departments of State, Commerce and Treasury.
Judyth LeDoux is a consultant specializing in the Federal Firearm and Explosive Laws and Regulations. With 34 years of distinguished service in the federal government, Ms. LeDoux provides technical expert witness and consulting services to attorneys of Federal Firearm and Explosives Licensees. Ms. LeDoux began her career with the federal government in 1988 with the Naval Investigative Service, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She served as a Paralegal Specialist for the United States Attorney's Offices in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, conducting legal research and writing for its Civil Division, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, Major Crimes and Appellate Divisions. She joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 1999 as an Inspector in the field.
Throughout her 23-year career with ATF, Ms. LeDoux served as the Special Operations Officer for the Baltimore Field Division, Program Manager for Advanced Explosives Training and Branch Chief of the Industry Operations Training Branch in Washington DC, and Area Supervisor for the Cleveland Area Office. She spent the last 10 years of her ATF career serving as the Director of Industry Operations for the Columbus Field Division, with decision making and oversight of ATF's regulatory enforcement operations in the states of Ohio and Indiana. Ms. LeDoux's expertise encompasses education, training and the interpretation of the federal Firearm and Explosives law and regulations. With her vast knowledge and experience, she provides consulting services to firearm and explosives industry members to answer questions, conduct internal audits to assess compliance, and provide recommendations to avoid violations that could result in the revocation of a license.
Ms. LeDoux received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida, graduating summa cum laude with a major in legal studies and a minor in criminal justice.
A respected lawyer with nearly 40 years of government and private sector experience, Mark Barnes founded Mark Barnes & Associates 20 years ago in Washington, D.C., building the firm into a successful boutique practice dedicated to firearms, weapons and explosives law.
Under Mr. Barnes' leadership, the firm has an excellent track record of providing regulatory-compliance legal services on matters related to import and export control, firearms business, registration and licensing, as well as audit, training and issue-advocacy services.
His team of seasoned attorneys has the experience - as well as knowledge of and passion for shooting, firearms competition, firearms technology and the law - to vigorously represent a broad range of clients and secure fair resolution of complex legal matters. Prior to starting the practice in 1993, Mr. Barnes worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he served for several years as the counsel to the secretary for drug abuse policy, appointed by Secretary Louis W. Sullivan in 1989.
As counsel, Mr. Barnes was the top legal advisor to the secretary on program and policy matters related to the U.S. government's fight against illegal drug use. In this role, he shaped policy and regulatory action on issues including drug-free-workplace programs, drug testing, state and local prevention efforts, drug-abuse research, drug treatment and the development of four national drug control strategies. During his tenure, he worked successfully with senior government officials, members of Congress and key interest groups to resolve a range of program and policy disputes.
In addition to his work at HHS, Mr. Barnes served as associate director for administration at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management from January 1988 to July 1989. In this role, he oversaw OPM's information management, personnel, fiscal, budgetary, facilities, real estate and acquisition programs, directing 500 employees and a $32 million budget. He also coordinated OPM's policy responsibilities under the president's drug-free federal workplace program. Previously, he served as OPM's deputy general counsel, overseeing labor, civil rights, pay and performance legal issues.
In the private sector, Mr. Barnes worked as an associate at Davis Wright and Jones - a top Pacific Northwest law firm based in Anchorage, Alaska - where he practiced commercial litigation and admiralty law.
In addition, Mr. Barnes served in the U.S. Senate as chief counsel to Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), handling a wide range of tax, small business, banking, and justice and ethics issues.
Mr. Barnes received his Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1981 and his bachelor's degree in political science from Arizona State University in 1978, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He is admitted to practice before several state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Member of Rhoads & Reed PLLC
Phil Rhoads is a member of Rhoads & Reed PLLC, Attorneys at Law, in Washington, D.C., following 14 years of public service in export controls enforcement, including four years at the State Department as chief of compliance and enforcement for the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and 10 years at the Commerce Department as investigative branch chief of anti-boycott compliance for the Bureau of Industry and Security. Prior to his work in the federal government, Mr. Rhoads practiced law in New Orleans, focusing on export contracting and financing. His current practice concentrates on compliance and enforcement under the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, including ITAR audits and advice on voluntary disclosures to State and Commerce, as well as commodity jurisdiction requests. Mr. Rhoads has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky School of Law, a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree from George Washington University. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Mr. Rhoads is a consulting counsel on export controls, helping the firm and its clients develop export compliance programs and responding to export enforcement issues at the departments of State, Commerce and Treasury.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Member of the District of Columbia Bar
Regina Gonzalez grew up in Northeast Ohio. She earned her BA with honors in History from the University of Cincinnati in 2006. She spent a term interning with the DC Office of the Attorney General in Washington, DC as well as a research term with the Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. Ms. Gonzalez earned her JD from Cleveland State University College of Law in 2009. During law school, she studied abroad in the Greece, Italy, and Spain, focusing her studies on international law. She has additional legal experience as an executive attorney recruiter and as Chief of Staff to a university Vice President.
Ms. Gonzalez was an Associate with Mark Barnes and Associates from 2011-2014, and rejoined the firm as Of Counsel in 2019. She advises federal firearms licensee clients on regulatory compliance issues related to the Gun Control Act, National Firearms Act, International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations, and explosives laws, including but not limited to internal compliance controls, disabling events, registration, and licensing. Additional areas of expertise include import and export, firearms and ammunition excise tax, and regulatory policy.
Throughout her professional career, Ms. Gonzalez has been committed to community engagement - volunteering for the USO and HandsOn Greater DC Cares, establishing a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters at Cleveland State University College of Law and serving as Resource Coordinator for St. Noel Parish. She enjoys skiing, running, gardening, and traveling with her husband Michael and their young daughters, Molly, Sadie, and Letty.
Ms. Gonzalez is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and Ohio State Bar.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the District of Columbia Bar
Mr. El-Rassy is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and Virginia Bar.
Shannon Shuman-Breton is a 17-year veteran of the firearms business and a licensed customs broker who currently serves as chief operating officer at Civil Arms Inc., a fully licensed federal firearms dealer and importer-exporter based in Windham, Maine. The company supplies international and domestic dealers, distributors, government agencies and individuals with firearms, ammunition and accessories, produced in the United States and abroad. Previously, she held a number of management positions with other leading firearms companies, including international sales manager, compliance manager, and trade services manager for a brokerage. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Ms. Shuman- Breton advises clients throughout the industry on audits and training concerning the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, the DTrade electronic defense export licensing system, and the Bureau of Industry and Security's Simplified Network Application Process Redesign, as well as on other import- export control matters.
Wally Nelson is a consultant to the firearms and explosives industries after a long, distinguished public service career, which included U.S. Army service in Vietnam and 33 years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2004, President George W. Bush awarded him the rank of Meritorious Executive for his outstanding achievements. At ATF, Mr. Nelson started as an inspector and advanced into a number of management positions in the field and at ATF headquarters, ending his civil- service career as deputy assistant director in the Office of Enforcement Programs and Services. Mr. Nelson is a recognized expert on ATF regulations and related legislation, as well as on related business practices for the firearms and explosives industries. He has a bachelor's degree in American history from Indiana University. For the firm, Mr. Nelson uses his knowledge, experience and keen insight to provide advice on all manner of regulatory issues. He reviews and analyzes clients' internal controls, compliance procedures and required records to pinpoint problems and propose corrective actions. Mr. Nelson also researches and answers technical questions regarding laws and regulations.