Ulrika Swanson is a partner in Cassidy Levy Kent’s Washington, DC office, where her practice focuses on export controls and economic sanctions. As outside counsel to domestic and international companies in a wide range of industries, Ms. Swanson provides advice on regulatory compliance, and represents clients before the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, and the Bureau of Industry and Security. Ms. Swanson also assists clients in trade remedy actions before the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as clients involved in proceedings before U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Prior to joining Cassidy Levy Kent, Ms. Swanson spent over a decade working in the international trade and investment field. She held a senior position in a prominent Washington-based public policy research organization, where her work included studies on cross-border trade issues, U.S.-China economic relations, U.S. economic issues, environmental standards under the WTO system, and free trade agreements. While there she also provided trade-related strategy advice to foreign governments. Ms. Swanson also previously served as a legal consultant to an international arbitration law firm, where she advised on issues relating to cross-border trade and investment and assisted clients involved in international commercial disputes.
Government Service
While in law school, Ms. Swanson completed internships in the United States Trade Representative’s Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve’s Office of the Inspector General.
Professional Affiliations
- Vice Chair of Diversity, American Bar Association, International Trade Committee
- Past Co-Chair, Women in International Trade, Exports, Sanctions, & National Security Committee
- Past Vice Chair, Customs and International Trade Bar Association, Export Control Committee
- Past Vice Chair of Programming, American Bar Association, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions Committee
Recent Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, The Canadian Institute 14th Annual U.S. Export and Reexport Compliance for Canadian Operations Conference, “Simplifying the Practicalities Behind EAR 734.9(b) and Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) and 734.4/de minimis Thresholds: How to Apply Complex Export/Reexport Requirements in Practice and Avoid Key Compliance Traps” (January 29, 2025)
- Speaker, Professional Association of Importers and Exporters, “Navigating Trade Remedies: Import Compliance Strategies in a Shifting U.S. Trade Policy Landscape” (January 22, 2025)
- Speaker, AEGIS Europe, “The Impact of US Elections and Upcoming Trump Administration on EU/US/Canadian Relations” (November 22, 2024)
- Speaker, GIR Live: Sanctions & AML Meeting 2024, “Election Aftermath: Impact on Sanctions and AML Lawyers and Their Clients” (November 14, 2024)
- Speaker, ACES Compliance Summit, “Navigating Nuances: A Comprehensive Roadmap for Doing Business with China” (May 13, 2024)
- Speaker, Georgetown Law International Trade Update, “The National Securitization of Trade Law and Policy” (June 14, 2023)
- Speaker, Royal Canadian Military Institute, “The Long Arm of the Law: Navigating U.S. and Canadian Sanctions and Export Controls for Canadian Businesses” (May 19, 2023)
- Moderator, “A Panel on Russia Sanctions & Export Controls” (CITBA) (June 3, 2022)
Education
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School
- M.A., Yale University
- B.A., Johns Hopkins University
- Diploma in International Studies, SAIS Europe
Languages
- English
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Italian
Bar Memberships
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
- United States Court of International Trade
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit