Mr. Ma is a Partner in Buchalter's Portland office, a member of the Firm's Corporate Practice Group, and serves as Co-Chair of the Firm's International Business & Trade Practice. Mr. Ma works with clients conducting business in the global marketplace to structure effective and efficient transactions; comply with U.S. and foreign laws and regulations; transfer and protect data and technology, intellectual property, and software; negotiate contracts for the sale and distribution of products and services; and establish foreign offices and manufacturing facilities.

He has practiced international business and trade law for more than 30 years. Mr. Ma is a member of the District Export Council for Oregon and Southwest Washington, a U.S. Department of Commerce-appointed group that advises the U.S. government on international trade issues and advises clients about a variety of export issues.

Exports

As to export matters, Mr. Ma counsels clients on compliance with U.S. and foreign export controls, embargoes, anti-bribery, and shipping laws and regulations governing commercial and military products, technical data, and services. His advice to clients includes classification, proper handling, and licensing of commercial and military products. He is continually involved with establishing and auditing export controls compliance programs for a wide spectrum of companies and industries, including manufacturers and contractors in aerospace, electronics, advanced materials, and emerging technologies . In addition, he is frequently consulted when voluntary disclosures and remedial measures are needed and U.S. government filings and approvals are required. This involves navigating and translating the complex and interlocking rules in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR"), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the various country and sector sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), and the U.S..

Imports

As to import matters, Mr. Ma represents clients in antidumping and special tariff exclusion proceedings before the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission. In 2017 he headed a team that was successful in multiple petitions to exclude imported products from tariff surcharges. In 2018 - 2019, Mr. Ma advised clients on the impact of section 232 and section 301 special tariff surcharges and administrative means to seek and successfully obtain product exclusions from increased tariffs on products imported from European and Asian countries. As with exports, Mr. Ma may assist clients with classification of products under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, valuation, marking and prior disclosures.

Data Transfer and Privacy

As to data transfer matters, Mr. Ma advises clients on compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") as well as the U.S - EU Privacy Shield Principles. This has implications for company policies and procedures, contracts with customers and subcontractors, as well as an in-depth review of personal data privacy issues. In addition, he has advised U.S. and foreign clients regarding investment in the U.S. by foreign investors and the U.S. government CFIUS review process.

Government Contracting

Mr. Ma advises many government and defense contractors on various aspects of government contracting, including cooperative research and development agreements with agencies of the U.S. government, protection of intellectual property rights developed in the course of government-funded programs, and compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Mr. Ma is also a founding member of Legal Counsel International, a global alliance of international lawyers and law firms helping clients engage in a wide range of international business transactions. Mr. Ma has been recognized by the Oregon State Bar as one of a handful of Oregon attorneys with in-depth experience in both international business transactions and international trade regulatory compliance.

Mr. Ma lectures widely at regional and national conferences on the subject of U.S. Export Controls compliance, U.S. Customs and import compliance, Foreign investment in the U.S. and the CFIUS review process, Anti-bribery compliance, International personal data protection, and the international protection of intellectual property.

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Bar Admissions
Oregon

District of Columbia (Inactive)

Massachusetts

Education
Boston College Law School, J.D., 1984

Harvard Law School, East Asian Legal Studies

Tufts University, B.A., cum laude, 1979

U.S. Exports and Encryption

Importers' Compliance with U.S. Laws

Helping Clients Succeed in International Trade

Counsel's Role in the Export Sales Transaction - Harmonizing Competing Interests

Building an International Vision - In the Global Society

Environmental Law in Oregon

Repositioning in Flight

Windfalls and Pitfalls of Pivoting Your Business Model in the New Business Environment

U.S. Government Announces Ban on U.S. investments in China High Tech Sectors

What Does the EU-US Data Privacy Framework Mean for Your Business?

Akana K. J. Ma, Speaker at EAR & ITAR Export Controls Summit

Akana K. J. Ma, Host of Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition Webinar

Akana K. J. Ma, Presenter at the OSCPA Business & Industry Conference

Akana K. J. Ma, Presenter to the Association of Corporate Counsel, Portland Chapter

Akana Ma, Speaker at US Small Business Administration Global Trade Management Program

Akana Ma, Speaker at the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance 20th Annual Conference

Buchalter Attorneys, Presenters at Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition Webinar

The U.S. Finalizes Outbound Investment Restrictions on Technology Development

U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs: Key Implications and Next Steps for Businesses

After Learning Resources v. Trump: Strategic Paths to Recovering Unliquidated IEEPA Tariffs Through Post-Summary Corrections

One Small Step for Importers: Federal Circuit Clears the Way for IEEPA Tariff Refund Litigation to Resume

CIT Orders CBP to Remove IEEPA Tariffs from Unliquidated Entries - Pressure Builds on CBP to Roll Out a Refund Procedure.

CIT Hits Pause on Immediate IEEPA Tariff Relief While CBP Builds Refund Process

Preserve Your Rights or Pay the Price: CIT Urges Importers to File Protests to Protect Liquidated IEEPA Refund Claims Still Eligible for Protest.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commences Processing Refund Applications for IEEPA Tariffs Starting April 20, 2026

Kripa Upadhyay and Akana K. J. Ma, Author: "CFIUS In Our New Era" - Published by The M&A Journal - June, 2026

CFIUS In Our New Era: The Due Diligence Step That Can No Longer Wait