Jeffrey Kessler
Jeffrey Kessler is a U.S. trade lawyer and public official whose policy work includes export controls for advanced AI chips. He earned degrees in philosophy, economics and law at Yale, the University of Chicago and Stanford before joining WilmerHale in 2011. He served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance from 2019 to 2021, returned to WilmerHale, and joined Law360’s Rising Stars list in 2022. The Senate confirmed him as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security in March 2025. At a House hearing in July 2026, he discussed BIS export controls for AI chips; as of October 2026, he holds the Under Secretary role.
Timeline
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2005–2010
Degrees at three universities
He earns a BA in philosophy and classics from Yale in 2005, an MA in philosophy from the University of Chicago in 2007, and an MA in economics and a JD from Stanford in 2010.
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2011
Joining WilmerHale
He joins WilmerHale in 2011 and works as an international trade attorney in private practice.
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2019–2021
Trade enforcement at Commerce
He assumes the role of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance in April 2019. He rejoins WilmerHale as a partner in 2021.
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2021–2022
A Law360 Rising Star
He rejoins WilmerHale as a partner in 2021. Law360 names him to its Rising Stars list in 2022.
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Since March 2025
Export controls for AI chips
The Senate confirms him as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security in March 2025. At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in July 2026, he testifies about BIS export controls and efforts to prevent advanced AI chips from reaching China. As of October 2026, he holds the Under Secretary role.
Sources and credits
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