Scott L. Johnston is a founding partner of Givens & Johnston, PLLC. Scott is a Native Houstonian. He has been practicing international trade law for over 20 years. Prior to his law career, Scott served as an E&P Tech for Shell Oil Company.

While at Givens & Johnston, Scott has served as counsel in matters before numerous judicial bodies. He has also successfully handled numerous government enforcement actions including penalties, seizures & forfeitures, and civil/criminal investigations

He has represented customs brokers and freight forwarders including the Houston Customhouse Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association (HCBFFA), in addition to importers and exporters (both commercial and noncommercial), foreign aircraft owner/operators, on a variety of laws enforced by Customs. This representation has included laws administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Trade Administration (ITA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), State Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EXIM Bank, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and others.

In his practice, Scott has experience dealing with a wide range of merchandise including equipment and machinery used in the exploration and production of oil & gas; aviation equipment; wholesale food products (e.g., honey, frozen shrimp); furniture; consumer electronics; solar cells; among many others.

Publications & Speaking

• “NAFTA Rules of Origin Seminar and Certificates of Origin” US-Mexico Customs Compliance Conference, February 13, 2014.
• “FTAs – Multi-Lateral vs Bilateral” American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) Annual Conference, June 20-22, 2017