About me

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Areas of Focus: International Trade; International Trade Policy; Sovereign Governments; Trade Remedy Litigation; World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Resolution & Counseling

Biography:
Alan has been based in Geneva, Switzerland since 2001, from where he provides government and private sector clients with a global perspective on international trade and regulatory issues. This includes providing strategic advice on geopolitical issues, advising foreign exporters and investors on U.S. trade regulations, helping clients adapt to new European trade regulations, assisting clients in securing access for their products and services across a wide range of jurisdictions, and engaging with UN bodies and other international institutions.
Alan has extensive experience in trade and regulatory matters at the domestic, bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. He has helped clients successfully:
- Develop and implement strategies to confront geopolitical challenges.
- Analyze regulatory changes in various jurisdictions and assess their legality under international obligations.
- Leverage FTAs to gain market access, reduce costs and mitigate supply chain risks.
- Design and implement strategies for engagement with foreign governments and multilateral institutions.
- Negotiate trade and other international agreements.
- Litigate trade and other treaty-based disputes.
In addition, as resident partner in Akin’s Geneva office, Alan works closely with Swiss-based clients. Drawing on the multidisciplinary capabilities of attorneys and advisors across Akin’s offices around the globe, Alan collaborates with colleagues to offer full support to clients based in Switzerland and neighboring regions.

Representative Work:
- Assisted a Fortune 500 consumer products manufacturer in implementing strategies to maximize the advantages of free trade agreements to lower the tariff burden on its global exports and inputs.
- Advised government and private sector clients on compliance with the European carbon border adjustment mechanism and its consistency with multilateral and FTA disciplines.
- Leveraged an Akin expert team to assist a Swiss multinational with issues connected with the U.S. sanctions regime.
- Advised client on consistency of draft digital markets regulation with international rules.
- Designed and implemented a training program to train multi-agency governmental teams responsible for trade negotiations.
- Advised a sovereign government throughout its trade negotiations with over 10 countries stretching across four continents.
- Successfully represented a sovereign government in a highly contentious WTO dispute involving sensitive issues of national security.
- Developed and implemented advocacy and legal strategies to successfully remove trade barriers affecting client’s exports to key markets.

Credentials:
Education: J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1996; B.A., Georgetown University, 1993
Bar Admissions: Florida, 1997

Recognitions:
- The Legal 500 EMEA , WTO, Switzerland, 2015-2026.
- Chambers Europe and Chambers Global , International Trade/WTO, Switzerland, 2016-2025.
- Best Lawyers Switzerland , Geneva Lawyer of the Year for Trade Law, 2020.
- Best Lawyers Switzerland, Trade Law.

Affiliations:
- Counselor, Appellate Body Secretariat, WTO.
- Legal advisor, General Secretariat of the Andean Community.
- Commercial secretary, Colombian Government Trade Bureau.

Insights:
- EU AI Act Amendments Defer and Clarify Obligations (July 28, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/EU-AI-act-amendments-defer-and-clarify-obligations
- CBAM Expansion Poised to Impact Global Supply Chains (July 9, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/cbam-expansion-poised-to-impact-global-supply-chains
- Alan Yanovich Authors Law360 Article on the Significance of Australia-EU’s Free Trade Deal  (April 17, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/alan-yanovich-authors-law360-article-on-the-significance-of-australia-eus-free-trade-deal
- Akin Lawyers and Practices Recognized in the Legal 500 EMEA 2026 Guide (March 25, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-lawyers-and-practices-recognized-in-the-legal-500-emea-2026-guide
- Chambers Europe 2026 Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices (March 19, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-europe-2026-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices
- EU Industrial Accelerator Act: Focus on Green and Important Details to be Negotiated (March 4, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/eu-industrial-accelerator-act-focus-on-green-and-important-details-to-be-negotiated
- Alan Yanovich Authors Law360 Article on The Implications of The WTO’s Most‑Favored‑Nation Reform  (March 3, 2026 ): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/media-mentions/alan-yanovich-authors-law360-article-on-the-implications-of-the-wtos-mostfavorednation-reform
- Chambers Global Recognizes Akin’s Lawyers and Practices in 2026 Edition (February 12, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-global-recognizes-akins-lawyers-and-practices-in-2026-edition
- EU Cyber and Connectivity Proposals with Extra-Territorial Impact: Cybersecurity Act 2 and Digital Networks Act Go to Negotiations (January 23, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/eu-cyber-and-connectivity-proposals-with-extra-territorial-impact-cybersecurity-act-2-and-digital-networks-act-go-to-negotiations
- EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Financial Obligations Commence Amid Proposed Scope Expansion to Include New Downstream Products (December 22, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/eu-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-financial-obligations-commence-amid-proposed-scope-expansion-to-include-new-downstream-products
- Steering Toward 2035: EU’s Automotive Sector Gets a Package (December 19, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/steering-toward-2035-eus-automotive-sector-gets-a-package
- Navigating the EU's Digital Omnibus on Privacy, Cyber, Data and AI and Next Steps (November 25, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/navigating-the-eus-digital-omnibus-on-privacy-cyber-data-and-ai-and-next-steps