Partner
Chicago, Illinois
dcraven at tradelaw dot com

David J. Craven is an accomplished authority on doing business in Europe and Africa. He is experienced in helping clients explore opportunities ito stay competitive in the global economy. Having practiced International Trade and Customs law in Washington D.C. and Chicago for more than 20 years, he is fluent in dealing with the nuances of the numerous governmental agencies responsible for administering U.S. trade and tariff law.

While working in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development, Mr. Craven became an integral part of the project to rewrite the preferential rules of origin and to examine other barriers to market integration for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). He has considerable experience in International trade and Customs matters, and has individually received an a-v rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Craven has lectured on export control issues and the North American Free Trade Agreement and has written articles on various aspects of U.S. trade law. Mr. Craven has learned many valuable lessons through executing a multitude of projects in the past and passes these lessons on to his clients. He possesses comprehensive knowledge as to how business gets done Internationally, both informally and formally. Mr. Craven is a valuable resource for any company contemplating global transactions.

Born in Washington, D.C. Mr. Craven holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Vocal Performance with a cognate in Philosophy from the University of Iowa. He also has a Juris Doctor with Honors from The National Law Center of The George Washington University. He was also a member of The George Washington University Journal of International Law and Economics.

He is admitted to practice in New York, Illinois, the District of Columbia, as well as before federal courts including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of International Trade the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Craven is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association and a past member of Law of the Sea Institute.

Mr. Craven has sung professionally and continues to appear in opera and oratorio in the Chicago Area. He is a past President of the Savoy-Aires, a Gilbert and Sullivan performing Society.