Andrew Caridas
- Washington, D.C.
Andrew evenly divides his international trade practice between helping his foreign and domestic clients navigate the complex web of U.S. international trade and investment regulations and defending their interests in trade remedies litigation and other adversarial trade proceedings.
In his trade remedies practice, Andrew Caridas draws on over a decade of experience litigating commercial matters in the federal trial and appellate courts. He has secured victories for clients subject to antidumping orders in both the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and represents clients in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations before the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission. He also represents clients in other trade-related litigation, including serving as lead counsel in a key challenge to presidential tariff authority. Andrew's broader experience litigating international matters has included defending a senior advisor to the Gabon government, advising a member of the U.S. Congress in connection with a national security investigation, and representing foreign companies and their officers in several antitrust investigations.
Andrew's training as a trial lawyer also informs his regulatory practice, where he focuses on providing clients with actionable, risk-based compliance assessments, implementing tailored compliance policies to address clients' unique risk profiles, and achieving optimal outcomes through amicable—and, if necessary, adversarial—resolution of government enforcement actions. Andrew regularly serves as the primary international trade compliance counsel for early-stage technology companies, guiding them through export control and customs classifications of their products, implementation of import/export and sanctions compliance policies, screening of potential customers, and clearance of their foreign investors by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Andrew also provides continuing regulatory counseling on export control, sanctions, and customs matters to mature companies ranging from established small businesses to some of the largest corporations in the world in industries ranging from aerospace to food and beverage.
Andrew's pro bono work focuses on criminal, habeas corpus, and immigration cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals, where his proudest accomplishment was overturning the wrongful murder conviction of a man serving a 110-year prison sentence.
Education & Credentials
Education
- American University Washington College of Law, LL.M., International Trade and Investment, Solf Award, 2018
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Associate Editor, Northwestern University Law Review, 2008
Bar and Court Admissions
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District of Columbia
Related Employment
- Zuckerman Spaeder, LLP, Washington, D.C., Associate, 2011-2017
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, Chicago, IL, Associate 2008-2011
Additional Languages
- German
- Romanian
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Customs and International Trade Bar Association, Board Member; Co-Chair, Export Control Committee, 2020-present
Insights
News
Professional Experience
International Trade Remedies
- Represented largest importer subject to antidumping investigation before the U.S. Department of Commerce, Court of International Trade (USCIT) and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, resulting in de minimis dumping margins in consecutive administrative reviews and successful appeal of original less-than-fair-value determination.
- Currently representing, as lead counsel, foreign manufacturer and domestic importer in USCIT challenge to presidential proclamation imposing “national security” tariffs under Section 232.
Export Controls & Sanctions
- Obtained export license permitting technology company to continue selling its products to its largest customer, which had been blacklisted by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
- Obtained export license permitting software company to avoid foreign breach of contract liability and realize additional sales totaling in six figures to entities blacklisted by BIS.
- Implemented sanctions compliance policy on behalf of major multinational chemical company with significant Iran-related risk profile.*
- Represented over one-hundred plaintiffs in successful Anti-Terrorism Act mass action trial involving financial services provided to designated terrorist organization, setting up substantial settlement following appeal.*
*Prior experience
Customs & Border Protection Compliance
- Negotiated downward departure from U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) penalty guidelines on behalf of client consumer products importer, resulting in penalty of approximately 3% of statutory maximum.
- Successfully challenged CBP determination that client’s tool parts were subject to additional duty pursuant to antidumping order.
- Ongoing representation of major multinational retail brand with respect to customs compliance advice.
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
- Represented defense technology contractor in connection with CFIUS written notice submission resulting in approval of acquisition by foreign firm.
- Represented aerospace services company in connection with CFIUS declaration submission resulting in approval of substantial investment by foreign firm.
- Represented advanced computing company in connection with CFIUS declaration submission resulting in approval of seed investment by foreign firm.
- Represented autonomous UAV company in connection with CFIUS declaration submission resulting in approval of substantial investment by foreign firm.
Trade Policy
- Advised semiconductor industry interest group on current and forthcoming U.S. export control regulations and opportunities for advocacy.
- Advised construction material interest group on current and forthcoming U.S. import restrictions and opportunities for advocacy.
- Assisted nongovernmental organization in conforming proposed energy legislation to the United States’ obligations under the World Trade Organization agreements.