David P. Sanders

Partner / Washington

David Sanders is a partner in Cassidy Levy Kent’s Washington office. Mr. Sanders has over twenty-five years of experience guiding Fortune 500 companies through complex customs and international trade matters. His practice focuses on the representation of clients before U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a wide range of proceedings, from ruling requests and appeals of agency actions to audits, seizures and penalty cases. His experience as an attorney-advisor in the Tariff Classification Branch and the Valuation Branch at U.S. Customs Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in the Office of Regulations and Rulings gives him an understanding of the successful strategies clients need to navigate customs matters.

Mr. Sanders helps clients save on duties and reduce administrative costs through counseling and compliance planning, and by seeking favorable tariff classification, valuation, free trade agreement and special program decisions from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He has defended companies in civil and criminal penalty cases. Mr. Sanders assists companies throughout the focused assessment audit process, including internal reviews, which may lead to prior disclosures often involving valuation, tariff classification, free trade agreement or special program (e.g., NAFTA, GSP, 9801, FTZ and drawback) issues. He has guided U.S. companies with operations in Canada and Mexico through NAFTA verifications by U.S., Canadian and Mexican customs authorities.

Mr. Sanders also represents clients before the U.S. Department of Commerce in AD/CVD matters including scope challenges and FTZ applications, and before the U.S. Court of International Trade in litigation challenging U.S. government agency actions affecting imports.

Mr. Sanders is a regular speaker at various seminars and trade association events serving the importing and exporting communities.

Professional Affiliations

  • Custom Lawyers’ Association
  • District of Columbia Bar, International Law Section: International Trade Committee Co-Chair
  • U.S. Court of International Trade Advisory Committee (1998-2008)

Education

  • J.D., University of Denver College of Law
  • B.A., University of Michigan

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Bar Memberships

  • District of Columbia
  • Colorado