Ted advises clients on all substantive issues handled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including complex customs valuation matters, free trade agreement qualifications, tariff classifications, special programs, and forced labor issues. He assists clients in developing and implementing effective compliance programs to help ensure that reasonable care is exercised over import matters. Ted regularly conducts internal compliance reviews, prepares detailed prior disclosures and compliance improvement plans, and represents clients in customs compliance audits and enforcement actions, including both CBP and Homeland Security Investigations. Ted also advises clients on related requirements administered by other agencies, including “Made in USA” claims governed by the Federal Trade Commission regulations and government procurement origin determinations under various statutes, including the Buy American Act of 1933, the Trade Agreements Act of 1979, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and others.
Ted regularly provides customs and related international trade advice in connection with corporate restructurings and mergers and acquisitions, and advises clients on trade-related legislative matters. He frequently works with colleagues in other practices and in other jurisdictions on multidisciplinary customs compliance issues, such as the intersection between transfer pricing and customs valuation, IP licensing, and other issues.
Ted also represents clients before other U.S. federal agencies involved in international trade, including the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as before the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Ted was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to serve on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation (ITAC 14) for the 2010–2014 and 2014–2018 terms.
Ted is a trusted source for leading business and international news outlets on tariffs, trade policy, and their business implications, including interviews with The New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Washington Post, CNN Business, CNBC, and NPR. He is regularly sought out for his insights on the evolving tariff landscape, supply chain strategy, and regulatory risk affecting multinational companies.Ted has been honored as a leading customs compliance practitioner by several publications, including the Washingtonian’s “Top Lawyers” list for International Trade and Arbitration (2024), Chambers USA (Band 1) (Nationwide, 2013–2025) and Chambers Global (Band 1) (USA, 2016–2026) for International Trade: Customs, Who’s Who Legal: Trade & Customs (2019–2022), Euromoney’s Best of the Best USA Expert Guide 2022 for International Trade, and Legal 500 United States for International Trade (2015).