Ashley W. Craig
Ashley's practice covers all aspects of corporate governance and related compliance, including trade sanctions, export controls, and anti-bribery and corruption standards. With a practical approach to corporate compliance, he recognizes the importance of understanding business priorities while ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. Ashley's experience includes matters arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and related corruption issues on a global scale and with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). His work entails internal investigations, due diligence activities, opinion requests from federal agencies, voluntary self-disclosures, auditing, and compliance training.
Ashley is well versed in supply chain governance, with an emphasis on transparency, due diligence, and security. He has focused on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) Withhold Release Orders (WROs) and, more recently, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which requires companies to take measures preventing forced labor in supply chains. Ashley's approach leverages a command of the law coupled with practical engagement with the U.S. government agencies enforcing UFLPA.
Ashley regularly assists clients with U.S. export controls and economic sanctions on a proactive basis through internal compliance efforts and before federal agencies, such as the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce (DOC), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Justice (DOJ).
He also represents clients before foreign governments and international organizations, such as the European Commission (EC), the UK Parliament and ministries, numerous ministries and offices of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Ashley's relevant legislative experience includes, in part, the SAFE Port Act of 2006, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), the Trade Act of 2002, and numerous miscellaneous trade and tariff bills addressing temporary duty elimination and reduction for U.S. importers, as well as implementation regulations before the competent agencies.
His understanding of the regulatory, legislative, and commercial issues affecting international concerns, such as transport and logistics, translates into practical solutions for those involved with global commerce and trade. Additionally, Ashley is familiar with the various regulatory agencies that oversee trade, transportation, and homeland security issues.
Related Practices
Experience
Representative Matters
- Served on a senior-level task force of industry leaders and national security experts that has issued its final recommendations to close security gaps in global trade by better leveraging market incentives. Targeted at U.S. government and industry stakeholders, the proposals of the “Partners in Prevention Task Force” is an initiative of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Stimson Center. Former Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Science and Technology Jay Cohen (RADM, USN, Ret) served as task force chair. The group’s recommendations follow an 18-month Stimson Center collaboration with hundreds of industry partners spanning high-tech manufacturers and service providers, transport and logistics firms, and insurance providers. Topics addressed include the Export Control Reform Initiative; the increasing importance of third-party logistics services in global trade; security at U.S. port facilities; and implementation of the International Trade Data System
- Following the 2001 terrorist attacks, served as a private sector advisor on the development of U.S. transportation security recommendations to the National Infrastructure Security Committee (a working group that reported to the secretary of the Department of Transportation)
- Routinely advises clients on the complex regulatory landscape governing U.S. export controls, as well as the requirements governing defense articles used in support of U.S. and foreign military operations
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law 2000
- Certificate, Comparative and International Law, 2000
- B.A. American University 1992
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, American Bar Association, Antitrust and Administrative Law Sections
- Member, Maritime Administrative Bar Association
- Member, Maritime Law Association
- Member, Society for International Affairs
- Member, British American Business Council; Defense, Transportation & Security Committee
- Secretary, History of Containerization Foundation
- Board member, Containerization & Intermodal Institute
Recognition
- BTI Consulting Group, Client Service All-Star, 2022
- Who's Who Legal
- Transportation, 2022
- Transportation - Shipping, 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America, International Trade and Finance Law, 2019 – 2023
- Chambers USA, Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Regulatory, Nationwide, 2012 – 2024
Community
Volunteerism
- President, Propeller Club of Washington, DC