Smirnow Law helps companies compete in the global clean energy economy. The firm was founded in 2015 by John P. Smirnow, a respected international trade and renewable energy expert. John has been quoted in the press on a broad range of international trade, renewable energy, and sustainability issues, including by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Financial Times, Associated Press, Economic Times, and Reuters.

John has nearly three decades of international trade experience and is a former associate and counsel to two international law firms and a leading customs and international trade boutique. He also served as Legal Advisor to the Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission and Law Clerk to the Honorable R. Kenton Musgrave at the U.S. Court of International Trade.

In 2015, John founded the Global Solar Council (GSC) on behalf of 17 national and regional solar associations and was appointed to serve as the organization's first Secretary-General. In addition to building the institution from the ground up, he helped recruit more than 15 leading corporations as members. He also built partnerships with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Coalition for Action and Clean Energy Ministerial and succeeded in positioning the GSC as the principal international advocate for the global solar industry.

Most recently, John served as Senior Vice President for Supply Chain and Sustainability & General Counsel at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). During his tenure at SEIA, he led SEIA’s international trade advocacy and helped save the U.S. solar industry billions of dollars in avoided duty costs. John also positioned SEIA as the leading proponent of domestic solar manufacturing and was closely involved in the development of the Inflation Reduction Act’s domestic manufacturing provisions.

On behalf of SEIA, John served as Chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee and Member of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan, Juris Doctor from the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and LL.M. (International) from the Georgetown University Law Center.