Marney L Cheek

Marney Cheek is a partner in the firm's Washington office. She advises companies and trade associations on a wide range of international trade and investment matters. Ms. Cheek also represents clients in international arbitration proceedings and litigates investment disputes in US courts. She has represented clients in international arbitrations conducted under the rules of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”), the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (“SCC”), and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (“UNCITRAL”). She currently represents shareholders in the Yukos Oil Company in an arbitration against the Russian Federation, and an Israeli company in a dispute with Uzbekistan in the mining sector. Ms. Cheek is a member of the CAFTA-DR dispute settlement roster of arbitrators. Ms. Cheek also counsels clients on international trade matters involving the World Trade Organization (WTO), free trade agreements, and international intellectual property policy. She currently advises clients on a wide range of trade issues, including Russia’s WTO accession, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, China, trade and investment policies in North Africa, and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Cheek served as Associate General Counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In that capacity, Ms. Cheek represented the United States in litigation before the WTO, including Canada - Measures Relating to Wheat and Treatment of Imported Grain. Ms. Cheek also advised the agency on a broad range of trade policy issues, including intellectual property, standards, biosafety, and environmental regulation. She also served as counsel for US free trade agreement negotiations with the Andean countries, Australia, Central America, Morocco, Thailand, the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and others. Ms. Cheek is vice-chair of Covington's Trade and International Policy practice and serves as co-chair of the firm's Women's Forum. She also is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS Counsel a large multinational company on ways to promote and enhance trade and investment in the Maghreb region of North Africa, including through the US-Morocco FTA. Develop and implement strategies for global companies to protect intellectual property rights abroad, including by ensuring that countries uphold their obligations under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Counsel information technology clients on several aspects of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Represent a leading global source of scientific data in countering piracy of copyright materials in China involving a state-owned enterprise. Advise clients on issues related to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Program. Advise U.S. association on the withdrawal of U.S. Internet gambling services commitments under the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Represent a multinational company on a NAFTA and WTO enforcement issue. Metal-Tech Ltd. v. Uzbekistan (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)) Renta 4, et al. (investors in Yukos Oil Company) v. Russian Federation (Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce). Republic of Indonesia v. PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules). Allen, et al. v. Russian Federation, et al., Civil No. 05-2077 (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) (action for expropriation of Yukos Oil Company). HONORS AND RANKINGS Law360, Rising Star - International Trade (2012) PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES Ms. Cheek was interviewed by Law360 (2/20/2013) about the state of the international trade bar and her practice at Covington. "Dispute Resolution Through Arbitration," India and the United States – The Evolving Legal Landscape for Cross Border Transactions (4/27/2013) "One Year Progress," One Year Anniversary of KORUS Implementation (3/15/2013) "Russia’s Membership in the WTO: An Additional Venue for Business Disputes?," 4th Annual ABA Conference on The Resolution of CIS-Related Business Disputes (9/21/2012) More Publications and Speeches