As a former in-house counsel and trusted partner for her clients, Elsa advises on U.S. and international regulations surrounding imports and exports, namely services, software and technology. Her clients include technology companies, defense contractors, manufacturers, retailers and others in industries including aerospace, explosives, electronics, firearms, chemicals, military training and services, consumer products, energy, and financial services.
She has successfully represented U.S. and foreign companies facing investigations by the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of State on matters pertaining to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Elsa represents clients before the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on transactions implicating U.S. sanctions and embargoes. She also advises on the import regulations administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In addition, she counsels on transactions reviewed for national security by the Treasury Department's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Elsa was appointed by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to serve as a panelist eligible to review antidumping and countervailing duty disputes under Chapter 19 of NAFTA.
After law school, Elsa served as law clerk to Justice Ann C. McClure, Court of Appeals for the Eighth District of Texas, El Paso, Texas and as law clerk to U.S. District Judge David Briones, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division.