Education

  • Duke University, A.B. (1983)
  • University of Georgia School of Law, J.D. (1986)

Admissions

  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of International Trade

David R. Stepp

Partner
dstepp@crowell.com
+1.213.443.5531

A leading international trade lawyer with more than 30 years of experience, David Stepp provides multinational companies with strategic advice on global customs and international trade compliance matters. A trusted advisor, David helps clients navigate the legal and business challenges of operating in an increasingly contentious global business environment. He advises companies with complex global supply chains in a wide variety of industries, including electronics, automotive, aerospace, e-commerce, apparel, home improvement, agriculture, seafood, defense, medical supplies, among others.

As a member of Crowell’s International Trade Group and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) team, David advises companies on compliance with forced labor and human rights requirements. He has deep experience assisting companies in mapping their supply chains, including linking imported products back to their raw materials using enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and other inventory management audit tools. David is highly experienced in forced labor supply chain mapping and risk assessments, and verifying due diligence efforts with on-the-ground visits to client facilities incorporating third party intelligence and audit resources. He is a thought leader and frequent speaker in the U.S. and Europe on the enforcement of national laws prohibiting forced labor and modern slavery and the development of strategies to achieve and maintain compliance.

Additionally, David regularly advises clients on international trade regulatory matters, including those related to tariff classification, valuation, country of origin marking, free trade agreements, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Program, and other compliance issues regulating the global trade in goods. He has extensive experience in conducting global customs and international trade audits, assisting clients on improving, benchmarking, and coordinating compliance programs across borders.

David spent three years in Singapore managing an international law firm’s office there where he advised on Asia trade issues and developed supply chain strategies for companies to leverage their Asian manufacturing and distribution networks to minimize duties and non-tariff barriers.

David is very active and highly respected in the international trade community. He is a co-founder and former president of the Global Legal Customs Association (GLCA), an organization of leading customs practitioners from over 20 jurisdictions in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. David also is board member of the Northern California World Trade Center, and a member of the Foreign Trade Association of Southern California, American Association of Exporters and Importers, and the Pacific Council on International Policy. For 10 years, David was the instructor for the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders class for students taking U.S. Customs & Broker Protection’s customs broker licensing examination.


Affiliations

Professional Activities and Memberships

  • Board of Directors, Northern California World Trade Center
  • Board of Directors, International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (Chairman, 2014, and President, 2013)
  • Member, Global Legal Customs Association (President, 2008-2010)
  • Member, American Bar Association

Speeches & Presentations


Publications


Client Alerts & Newsletters


Press Coverage


Firm News & Announcements

August 27, 2018 Leading International Trade Lawyer David Stepp Joins Crowell & Moring in Los Angeles