Events

2025 Virtual Trade Finance Workshop

Overview
Register
Program
Speakers
FAQ's
Sponsorship

Overview

Virtual Offering: Join us Virtually From Any Corner of the Globe! 

The BAFT Trade Finance Workshop is planned as an interactive virtual format, allowing you to attend the engaging sessions from wherever you are. Taking place over 3 days, 4 hours each day – it give everyone a chance to check in at work while still focusing on this important and fun information.

Speakers will be presenting virtually from around the globe. We’ve planned an fun, immersive experience, seamlessly integrating online participants and speakers, regardless of location. This approach ensures that no matter where you are located, you will be able to join the workshop discussions.  

 

Earn CPDs for CDCS Recertification 

The workshop is approved for 12 continuing professional development (CPD) units towards your CDCS recertification. Grab the opportunity to learn and network while also advancing your professional standing in the trade finance industry.

 

Who Should Attend? 

This workshop is designed for a diverse audience within the trade finance ecosystem: 

  • Bankers, importers, exporters, brokers, providers/suppliers, and professionals involved in trade operations and LC document preparations. 
  • Individuals seeking an in-depth exploration of trade operations, and contemporary issues in the trade industry, and those looking to engage in thoughtful discussions. 
  • Professionals with CDCS certification aiming to accumulate CPDs for their recertification. 

 

Hear from Attendees Why This is the Workshop to Attend 

“As a corporate professional with 20 years experience in international trade, it brought a lot of tangible & intangible values. It was one of the most practical collaboration and brainstorming learning experiences critical to sound business decision-making. I commend the program committee for choosing the right topics and wonderful speakers that resonate with my experiences. I enjoyed, learned, raised questions and gained network with the attendees and speakers.” 

 

“It was a great learning experience to hear from the great speakers and banking community Beyond the practicality of the workshop lies the opportunity to go much deeper and learn more.” 

 

“It provided a real learning value for managers, and document checkers as you learn different topics from subject matter experts.”  

Program

Day 1 - September 15, 2025
Day 2 - September 16, 2025
Day 3 - September 17, 2025
Day 1 - September 15, 2025

All times are in EST

10:30 AM - 10:40 AM

Welcome & Introduction of Audience

10:40 AM - 11:15 AM

Changing Tires on a Speeding Car - Tariff's

How have tariffs impacted global trade (geographical, Industry)

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

What is your intention or commitment to issue my guarantee / SBLC? ... Can you put a ring on it?

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Commercial & Collections: Conundrums?

12:30 PM - 12:40 PM

Email Break

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

Hear ye, Hear ye, Judge Mike is in the House

Return of the Mock Court, a fan favorite!

Judge

Michael Evan Avidon, Esq
Senior Counsel
Partner and Co-Chair, Banking and Finance Group
Moses & Singer LLP

1:45 PM - 2:25 PM

Fraud Uncovered: Pig Butchering - The Costly Long Game is Almost Here

2:25 PM

Day 1 Closing Remarks
Day 2 - September 16, 2025

All times are in EST

10:30 AM - 10:35 AM

Welcome Day 2

10:35 AM - 11:15 AM

Don't be in Jeopardy of Missing Out - Test Your UCP Knowledge!

Game Host

Ellen Muench
VP – Trade Capital Markets Back Office Team Lead, Operations & Technology
Associated Bank

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Single Issue Questions Standby

Every Popular and Interactive - this session will challenge your understanding of Standby LC's.

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Organized Crime - What is Happening in the Trade World

Speakers

Lisa Chin
Global AML Head of Trade Finance
MUFG

Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Vice President, J.P. Morgan
Chair, BAFT Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee Committee

12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Email Break

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM

INCOTERMS and Tariffs - like a pair of shoes...It's better when they match

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

ISBP - The Sequel

1:45 PM - 2:25 PM

What's Happening in your Supply Chain?

2:25 PM

Day 2 Closing Remarks
Day 3 - September 17, 2025

All times are in EST

10:30 AM - 10:35 AM

Welcome Day 3

10:35 AM - 11:15 AM

Ship Happens

Speaker
David Tannenbaum
Director
Blackstone Compliance

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Digitilization

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

It's a Standby! Should you really be doing that?

12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Email Break

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Port's, Prices, & Politics

1:30 PM - 2:25 PM

Expert Insights & Conversations

2:25 PM

It's a Wrap!

Register

Registration Now Open

 

Registration Type Early Bird Rate (until August 15)

Virtual

Regular Rate (after August 15)

Virtual

Member $995 USD $1,095 USD
Non-Member $1,150 USD $1,250 USD
Team Rate* *** $75 off ***

*The team rate applies to institutions sending five (5) or more attendees at the full-priced registration rate. Complimentary and discounted rates do not count toward the group minimum. To register your team, please contact [email protected]. 

 

Please Note:
You will be asked to log in to your BAFT web account to complete registration. Your username is the email address you used during registration. If you forgot your password, please click the password reset link. If you do not have a BAFT web account, please create one  first. Once you have created an account or reset your password, please return to this registration page to complete your registration. 

To register for this event, please login or register for an account.

Speakers

Michael Evan Avidon, Esq.
Michael Evan Avidon, Esq.
Senior Counsel, Partner and Co-Chair, Banking and Finance Group
Moses & Singer LLP

Michael Evan Avidon is Senior Counsel at Moses & Singer LLP, after 36+ years as a Partner there.  He Co-Chairs its Banking & Finance Practice Group.  He is widely recognized for his knowledge of letters of credit (LCs), lending, and secured transactions.  Mike handles secured and unsecured lending; agented and bilateral deals; trade finance and supply chain finance, including discounting, receivables purchases, and payables agreements; loan agreements, LC reimbursement agreements, security agreements, guarantees, and participation agreements; electronic contracting, outsourcing, and white label agreements; and LC disputes and litigation.  His work involves standby, direct pay, and commercial LCs, and demand guarantees.  His clients include money center banks, smaller banks, and other financial institutions.

Lisa Chin
Lisa Chin
Global AML Head of Trade Finance
MUFG

Lisa Chin is a Director and the Global AML Head of Trade Finance for MUFG Bank, Ltd. since 2019. She started her trade career as an import letter of credit processor for American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago. Surviving a number of mergers that ended up as JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, she held various roles in trade operations for 18 years until she moved into an AML/KYC role supporting trade finance and escrow. In 2015, she moved to HSBC Bank as Senior Vice President and the U.S. Head of AML Compliance for Trade Finance, where she managed an advisory team supporting the Trade Finance department. Lisa is a member of the BAFT National Letter of Credit Committee and the co-Chair of the BAFT Trade Compliance Committee. She obtained her CDCS in 1999 and has since remained certified. Currently, she and her team are working on a project to standardize AML processes in MUFG’s 31 trade offices around the world.

Renata Hazelman
Renata Hazelman
Americas AML Advisory
MUFG
Ellen Muench, CDCS
Ellen Muench, CDCS
VP - Trade Capital Markets Back Office Team Lead, Operations & Technology
Associated Bank

Ellen Muench is a Vice President and Trade Capital Markets Back Office Team Lead at Associated Bank with more than 25 years of banking experience, including Supervisory experience, System Administration, and 16 years in Trade Services. During her time supporting back-office operations, in addition to delivery of Letter of Credit, Documentary Collection and Capital Markets products her areas of expertise have included process review and refinement for efficiency and risk reduction, planning, testing and implementation of system integrations and upgrades, and preparing and conducting product education and group training sessions across lines of business. She is a Certified Documentary Credit Specialist and a member of the BAFT Southeast and Central Regional Subcommittees and the Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee and Commercial Letter of Credit National Committees.

Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Vice President
J.P. Morgan

Fiore (Frank) Petrassi is Global Product Manager for Standby Letters of Credit and Guarantees with JPMorgan Chase responsible managing and growing the global Standby Letter of Credit and Guarantee offering to the JPMorgan client base for all lines of business. Frank is a long standing member of the BAFT Trade Finance Committee and current Chair of the BAFT National Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee Committee. He was former Chair of the BAFT North Central Standby Letter of Credit Committee and Co-chair of the IIBLP Government Mandated Letter of Credit Committee.

Joseph Philipps
TD Securities
David Tannenbaum
David Tannenbaum
Director
Blackrock Compliance

David Tannenbaum started his career in sanctions compliance while serving at the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s (OFAC), the U.S. agency in charge of administering economic sanctions. In his capacity at OFAC, he oversaw the analysis of blocked and rejected transactions, and provided sanctions advice to some of the world’s largest financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, and law firms. David created Blackstone Compliance Services, a company specializing in sanctions compliance, after joining the private sector in 2013. As the director of Blackstone, he served as the FRB-appointed independent consultant of a global financial institution and has led sanctions testing for three major monitorships on behalf of the US Department of Justice, Federal Reserve Board, New York Department of Financial Services, and foreign regulators such as the United Kingdom’s FCA and France’s APCR.

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions About This Workshop 

Where is this workshop being hosted?

The 2025 Virtual Trade Finance Workshop is being hosted online via Zoom.

What platform is this being hosted on?

The virtual workshop will be hosted via Zoom Webinar. For a seamless experience, you need to download Zoom to your device, if you don’t have it installed. On the day of the virtual workshop, you simply need to click the Zoom link provided to you.  

How will I login during the workshop?

To join the virtual event, simply click the link provided to you. Zoom works on computers, tablets, and mobile phones.  There is also an option to dial-in if you are unable to join online. Dialing in will allow you to hear the discussion but you will not be able to view the speakers or any presentations. Please check the dial-in numbers, meeting ID and passcode provided to you with the online link.  

Will you email me information about logging in and who can help me if I have issues?

Yes, BAFT will send each registrant an email about 1 week before the workshop start date. The email will include the link to the workshop and dial-in information, including the meeting ID and passcode in case you cannot join online. The dial-in option offers local/toll-free numbers for several countries. You can always contact [email protected] if you have issues logging in to the virtual workshop.  There will be a different Zoom link for each day of the workshop. 

What if I cannot attend the sessions live? Am I able to watch it later?

The workshop will be recorded and sessions approved by speakers to be posted will be available on-demand to all registered attendees post-workshop. An email will be sent to all attendees once the recording is available Please note it will take at least 2 weeks (possibly longer) for the video to become available.

What if my institution or company doesn’t allow me to access the platform?

Please test ahead of time to ensure you can join the workshop via Zoom. Zoom works on different devices – computers/laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. If you cannot access Zoom due to firewall or company restrictions, please check with your IT team if they will give you a one-time exception. Alternatively, try joining via a non-company-issued device or dial into the workshop instead.  

Will I be able to ask questions?

Yes, you can certainly ask questions via the Q&A feature during each session. Polling is available in certain sessions and attendees are encouraged to utilize the chat feature as well to dialogue with each other.   

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Kaitz
Director, Business Development
[email protected]
+1 (202) 663-5556

Testimonials

“Very informative and easy to follow the presenters. The issues and topics discussed are pertinent to what we do today.”

Workshop Attendee

Buffalo, New York

“he workshop was very informative. A lot of interesting subjects were discussed. Although I attended virtually, there was a chat available to submit questions and another one to interact with other attendees to exchange comments and points of view.”

Workshop Attendee

Montreal, Canada

“The depth of knowledge and years of experience of the speakers and panelists was exceptional. ”

Workshop Attendee

Wichita, Kansas

“The Case Study and Mock Court were really excellent to learn. The sharing of practical experiences was also nice. It was a really good experience talking with other participants and all the speakers were knowledgeable in their fields. ”

Workshop Attendee

Toronto, Canada

“I was able to attend the workshop in person in NYC. The variety of topics covered over the 2 days was really interesting, I especially enjoyed day 1. Looking forward to receiving copies of the materials covered.”

Workshop Attendee

Columbus, Ohio

“Very well organized. Quality speakers. Topics directly relating to my line of work (Export Documentary LCS and Compliance).”

Workshop Attendee

New York City, New York

“The workshop was excellent! The topics were interesting, relevant, and very informative. The speakers were engaging. It was also nice to have such a large group from so many locations. I was unfortunately unable to travel to a live location this year, but the larger group from the 3 locations was very worthwhile. ”

Workshop Attendee

Chicago, Illinois

“I learned about the real challenges experts are facing and the solutions they are using. I enjoyed the session "Voice of the Guarantee Issuer". The speakers were knowledgeable, the presentation was concise and simple to understand. The knowledge of the rules and applicability was top-notch.”

Workshop Attendee

Vancouver, Canada