Craig Briess

I am an international trade law attorney, and cover topics that relate to trade, customs, and international affairs.

I began my legal career in customs law and international trade law at the New York City firm Tompkins & Davidson, LLP. There, I advised clients on a plethora of customs and trade matters. I also frequently interacted with US House and Senate staff and administrative agencies, respectively. I subsequently joined the International Trade Centre, Office of the Executive Director, in Geneva, Switzerland, where I conducted legal review of contracts and agreements between the International Trade Centre (a joint organization of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations) and non-UN affiliated technical service providers, analyzed substantive rights and obligations of contracting parties, and reviewed procedural provisions.

From July 2012 until January 2017, I worked at U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) in several roles, including Attorney for the Office of Chief Counsel, Trade & Finance and Chief of the Trade Agreements Branch. There, I provided internal and external guidance on trade agreements and special trade legislation (e.g., NAFTA, AGOA) and performed inter-governmental coordination of US and foreign FTA verifications. I had the wonderful opportunity to represent CBP to the USTR in trade matters, including AGOA, TPP, and T-TIP.

Since leaving CBP, I have continued to provide assistance to various importers, exporters, and their representatives.

I hold a BA from Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, International MBA from Instituto de Empresa Business School, Madrid, Spain, and a law degree from University of Miami School of Law (cum laude), Miami, Florida (with leave at University of Copenhagen). I am a member of the New York, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C. bars, and am admitted to practice in front of the Court of International Trade.

To Act or not to Act: The Question of Federal IVF Rights
By Craig Briess

Following recent legal developments and state-level differences, access to IVF remains a key issue in reproductive healthcare. While the proposed Right to IVF Act sought to ensure federal protections, its future is uncertain. This article examines the legal complexities, including federal authority under the Commerce Clause, state powers under the Tenth Amendment, equal protection concerns, and insurance implications under ERISA.

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