John E. Turlais

Of Counsel

John E. Turlais

Of Counsel

John Turlais is a member of Foley & Lardner LLP’s Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations Practice Group. He has significant experience conducting international compliance risk assessments for domestic and foreign companies and, based on their specific risk profiles, designing and improving their international trade and anti-bribery/anti-corruption (ABC) compliance programs consistent with the expectations set forth by U.S. law enforcement agencies. He has worked with companies of all sizes —including publicly-traded companies and multinational corporations with established compliance programs, and small and mid-sized firms seeking to expand internationally — to improve or develop myriad policies, position-specific compliance training programs, third-party due diligence procedures, and internal controls tailored to the economic sanctions, export controls, customs, and ABC risks faced by his clients.

Relatedly, a substantial portion of John’s practice is devoted to counseling clients on international regulatory matters, including economic sanctions programs conducted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), export controls issues under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration

Regulations (EAR), ABC issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and import-related issues overseen by Customs & Border Protection (CBP). John’s experience includes conducting numerous internal investigations and defending corporate clients facing enforcement actions by the U.S. Department of Justice or other federal or state agencies.

John provides clients with practical, risk-based guidance and designs implementable international trade and ABC compliance solutions suited to clients’ needs and budgets. In recognition of his work developing ABC tools to help mid-sized companies assess corruption risks and respond to issues more efficiently and effectively, John has received the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Legal Innovator award and the Milwaukee BizTimes’ I.Q. (Innovation Quotient) award.

John understands that it is critically important to have a coordinated, multijurisdictional response to multinational enforcement actions. To that end, he helped establish an international defense alliance, the ConciliumTM Global Network, composed of compliance, investigations, and government enforcement defense attorneys located in countries around the world. John also serves as the FCPA advisor to a software firm developing online ABC modules specifically designed for training multinational companies operating in India.

John is a frequent writer and speaker on topics related to the international trade compliance, internal investigations, and cross-border government defense strategies. For a list of his publications, please see the Insights section below.

Before joining Foley, John co-founded ProjectLearn USA, Inc., an educational company that provided information and strategies on developing study practices and test-taking skills. John also played professional baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets organizations.

Awards and Recognition

  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Pro Bono Honor Society
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Legal Innovator award
  • Milwaukee BizTimes, I.Q. (Innovation Quotient) award
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers® – Rising Star (2011–2013)

Community Involvement

  • Member of the board of directors of Broadscope Disability Services
  • Past member of the board of directors of the Oak Creek Girls Youth Basketball Association
27 February 2025 Events

Coping with Tariff Uncertainty: Managing International Trade Risks Under the Trump Administration

The Trump Administration has issued multiple announcements that it will be sharply raising tariffs on most of the major U.S. trading partners, including 10 percent tariffs on China, 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico (suspended for 30 days), and 25 percent tariffs on all imports of aluminum and steel products.
19 February 2025 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

What Every Multinational Company Should Know About … The New Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

On February 10, 2025, President Trump signed proclamations titled Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States and Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States. The proclamations cover both steel and aluminum tariffs, which will be raised to a flat 25%.
17 February 2025 Foley Viewpoints

6 Steps to Manage Tariff Risks in a Trade War

As Trump seeks to raise U.S. tariffs (which currently tend to be among the lowest worldwide), manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and other companies that frequently import must determine the best strategy to deal with the resulting uncertainties.
26 February 2025 Events

2025 In-House Connect Supply Chain & Trade Law CLE Summit

With the new Trump administration taking office, significant policy shifts are on the horizon, particularly for the manufacturing sector. Join Foley & Lardner LLP and In-House Connect on February 26 for a half-day webinar full of insights regarding policy shifts, supply chain, tariffs, international trade laws, and more.
28 January 2025 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

What Every Multinational Company Should Know About … Managing Import Risks Under the New Trump Administration (Part III): A 12-Step Plan for Coping with Tariff and Supply Chain Uncertainties

With potential tariff increases and USMCA renegotiations on the horizon, and with Customs already devoting considerable resources to blocking goods at the border that are the product of forced labor or human trafficking or that violate the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, we have put together a 12-step guide to preparing for and adapting to the rapidly shifting importing environment.
23 January 2025 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

What Every Multinational Company Should Know About … Managing Import Risks Under the New Trump Administration (Part II): The Implications of President Trump’s “America First Trade Memorandum”

During his campaign, President Trump often stated that he would be implementing an “America First” international trade policy, which he said explicitly would include higher tariffs, potentially on imports from the entire world.