David A. Yocis

David Yocis represents U.S. domestic industry clients on international trade matters before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and in appeals from decisions of these bodies in the U.S. federal courts, NAFTA Chapter 19 panels, and in the WTO. He also advises clients on a wide variety of customs and trade matters, including textile and apparel issues, trade negotiations, and international dispute resolution.

In particular, he coordinates the firm’s day-to-day activities on behalf of the U.S. Lumber Coalition to monitor and enforce the 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), working closely with several U.S. government agencies and supporting U.S. efforts in arbitrations under the SLA before the tribunals of the London Court of International Arbitration. He also focuses on providing advice to the firm’s domestic and international clients on matters involving rights and obligations under the WTO agreements.

Prior to joining Picard Kentz & Rowe in November 2009, Mr. Yocis served as Associate General Counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). While at USTR, he led U.S. delegations in all phases of WTO dispute settlement activities, including before the WTO Appellate Body and Panels, in disputes such as the U.S. challenge of subsidies provided to Airbus by EU member States and challenges by multiple WTO Members against U.S. agricultural subsidies. He also advised USTR policy officials on the drafting and implementation of the agricultural and textile provisions of several U.S. free trade agreements, including CAFTA-DR and the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, and coordinated U.S. responses to countervailing duty actions against allegedly subsidized U.S. products brought in Canada, China, the European Union, and Peru.

Mr. Yocis graduated cum laude from the New York University School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the NYU Law Review. He has been a member of the United States roster of NAFTA Chapter 19 panelists since 2010.