Sherman Katz

Sherman Katz graduated from Amherst College (cum laude), attending University of Stockholm during his junior year; holds degrees from Columbia University Schools of Law (JD) and International Affairs (MA); in mid-career studies at University of Oxford, earned Diploma in European Law. He practiced international trade law in the Washington office of Coudert Brothers. He represented business and governments in negotiation, litigation and legislation for the solution of trade and investment issues. For this work, he appeared before USTR, the departments of state, treasury, defense, commerce and agriculture, US Congress, World Bank and World Trade Organization. From 2000 to 2010, he held the Scholl Chair in International Business at CSIS and senior policy positions at the Peterson Institute and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His views on trade policy were published in the Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal, among others. He commented on trade issues for PBS, CNN, BBC, CBS and NBC. He was knighted by the King of Sweden and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 1978, he helped establish the Lawyers’ Committee for the Washington Performing Arts Society. He served as a board member of WPAS, the Washington Opera, Source Theater and Folger Library and as a commissioner of the DC Commission on the Arts. As a member, advisor and chair of the Music Committee, he helped sustain the excellence of the Warne Ballroom concert series and concert attendance grew to its highest levels. For live-streamed concerts during the pandemic and then hybrid concerts in 2021-22, he has worked closely with the video production company to maintain the quality of the concert experience, which included the innovation of post-concert Q&A with the musicians. During his service on the International Affairs Committee, he has suggested as speakers senior National Security Council officials and ambassadors from Europe and Asia and provided helpful guidance on foreign speakers based on his experience with embassies. He has sponsored many new members and has been a speaker at the Club on international trade issues.