Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat

Ambassador Eizenstat heads the firm’s international practice. His work at Covington focuses on resolving international trade problems and business disputes with the US and foreign governments, and international business transactions and regulations on behalf of US companies and others around the world.

During a decade and a half of public service in three US administrations, Ambassador Eizenstat has held a number of key senior positions, including chief White House domestic policy adviser to President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981); U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration (1993-2001).

During the Clinton Administration, he had a prominent role in the development of key international initiatives, including the negotiations of the Transatlantic Agenda with the European Union (establishing what remains of the framework for the US relationship with the EU); the development of the Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) among European and US CEOs; the negotiation of agreements with the European Union regarding the Helms-Burton Act and the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act; the negotiation of the Japan Port Agreement with the Japanese government; and the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, where he led the US delegation.

Ambassador Eizenstat has received seven honorary doctorate degrees from universities and academic institutions. He has been awarded high civilian awards from the governments of France (Legion of Honor), Germany, Austria, and Belgium, as well as from Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers. In 2007, he was named "The Leading Lawyer in International Trade" in Washington, DC by Legal Times. His articles appear in The New York Times, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Foreign Policy magazine, and Foreign Affairs magazine, on a variety of international and domestic topics. Ambassador Eizenstat grew up and was educated in the public schools of Atlanta. He is a Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and of Harvard Law School.

Previous Experience:

• Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (1999-2001)
• Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs (1997-1999)
• Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (1996-1997)
•  U.S. Ambassador to the European Union (1993-1996)
• Chief Domestic Policy Adviser and Executive Director of the White House Domestic Policy Staff for President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
• Policy Director, Jimmy Carter’s 1976 Campaign for the Presidency White House Staff of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1967-1968)
• Research Director, Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s 1968 Presidential Campaign Adjunct Lecturer, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (1982-1992)
• Brookings Institution, Guest Scholar (1981)

Honors and Rankings

• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2008)
• "The Leading Lawyer in International Trade" in Washington, DC by Legal Times (2007)
• Best Lawyers in America, government affairs and international trade and finance law (2007)
• Washington DC Super Lawyers, International (2008)
• Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star for Service to the Republic of Austria from the Austrian government (2005)
• Medal of Honor from the Czech Council of Victims of Nazism (2005)
• French Legion of Honor from the French government (2004)
• Great Negotiator of the Year Award from Harvard University (2003)
• Alexander Hamilton Award for Distinguished Service, Department of Treasury (2001)
• Knight’s Commander’s Cross (Badge and Star) of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of German (2001)
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Public Policy Scholar (2001)
• Distinguished Service Award, Department of State (1999)
• Courage and Conscience Award from the Israeli government (1998)
• Foreign Affairs Award for Public Service, Department of State (1996)
• Over 40 additional awards from various groups and organizations. Seven honorary doctorate degrees from universities and other educational institutions. 
  • Florida Atlantic University, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (2002)
  • Brandeis University, Honorary Doctor of Laws (2001)
  • University of North Carolina, Honorary Doctor of Laws (2000)
  • Hebrew College, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (2000)
  Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Honorary Doctor of Human Letters (2000)
  • Weismann Institute of Science, Israel, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (1999)
  • Yeshiva University, Honorary Doctor of Laws (1998)