Jennifer E. McCadney

Partner

Phone number
(202) 342-8416

As both a lawyer and government relations strategist specializing in customs and international trade, Jennifer McCadney has been practicing at the nexus of law and policy for more than 20 years.

Leveraging extensive knowledge and insights from both arenas, Jennifer helps companies and organizations across a wide range of industries identify, advance, and defend their interests across all branches of government in legal, political, and regulatory matters. Her complementary experiences on Capitol Hill and as a private sector advocate and her grasp of the connection between implementing long-term goals and executing discrete objectives direct her effective problem-solving approach. Deploying dual legal and policy skillsets, Jennifer moves the needle, clears roadblocks, and opens up opportunities for her clients.

Combining her deep subject-matter knowledge and policy understanding with well-honed relationship-building and management skills, Jennifer recognizes the critical importance of establishing and maintaining trust and credibility with legislators, staffers, and regulators. She also appreciates their pressures and priorities, allowing her to craft advocacy approaches most likely to receive a positive and productive reception.

Jennifer’s experience spans a broad spectrum of policy, legislative, and regulatory issues related to trade, customs, and competition. She advises on a variety of trade matters, including bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, market access, non-tariff barriers, supply chain visibility, ESG concerns, forced-labor-made import prohibitions, trade and environment issues including deforestation, tariff preferences and reductions, and enforcement of trade remedy laws. She also advises on compliance with U.S. customs laws and regulations and represents importers in matters before U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Mindful of her clients’ resources, time, and strategic and reputational interests, Jennifer works with businesses and trade associations from various industries, including manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, metals, apparel, retail, food and beverage, automotive, consumer products, and telecommunication services. She also advises on coalition building and collaboration with civil society organizations, representative of her ability to use every tool at her disposal to achieve her clients’ objectives.

Jennifer is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences and for private clients, as well as for educational forums and webinars on topics related to her substantive areas of practice and current political and policy trends. She actively participates in professional and industry associations, including the American Association of Exporters and Importers, where she is a member of the Nominating Committee.

In addition to her busy career, Jennifer volunteers for a variety of community, charitable, and legal organizations, particularly those focused on protecting the interests of children.

“Finding solutions often requires looking at things through a broader lens. My experience allows me to see issues from a perspective incorporating law, policy, and the relationship dynamics underlying both.”

Recent notable achievements include:

Advocated for and secured inclusion of two legislative provisions advancing client interests in the 2016 Customs Reauthorization legislation.

Developed a long-term congressional advocacy framework for a coalition of wireless telecommunications companies providing service under the Lifeline program, and coordinated a team of in-house lawyers and public policy professionals to develop goals, strategy and execution.

Coordinated the production of an educational panel discussion hosted by wireless telecommunications companies in collaboration with civil society partners to educate Hill and Federal Communications Commission staff about the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order.

Utilized an administrative petitioning process to successfully remove the Generalized System of Preferences treatment for an imported product that was adverse to a domestic producing client’s interests.

Provided counsel and representation to companies in response to formal Congressional investigations and individual member inquiries, while protecting sensitive business interests.

Additional experience includes:

Led efforts to the enactment in the 111th Congress of H.R. 4380, the Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010, which reduced import tariffs on thousands of raw material inputs for U.S. manufacturers.

Identified and worked to resolve issues with various free trade agreements to obtain Congressional approval; for example, worked extensively with the Government of Panama and the United States Trade Representative to resolve labor issues raised by Congressional Democrats.

Developed legislative concepts and drafted legislation including Customs reauthorization and trade remedy enforcement.

Assisted the Ways & Means trade staff on Rep. Levin’s priorities, which included eliminating trade barriers, China currency and free trade agreements (FTAs).

Collaborated with Congressional Michigan Delegation and State (Governor’s Office) counterparts on issues of concern to the Michigan automotive and other manufacturing industries.

Practiced before the International Trade Commission, Department of Commerce and United States Trade Representatives (USTR) in actions involving the application of various U.S. trade laws.

Initiated and defended judicial appeals of agency proceedings before the Court of International Trade and Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Counseled clients on World Trade Organization jurisprudence and its implications on domestic trade remedy safeguard cases.

Advised U.S. importers on compliance with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations including classification, valuation, country of origin marking, duty drawback and special preferences.

Assisted companies in obtaining membership in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Importer Self Assessment (ISA) programs.

Counseled clients on compliance with export control regulations and licensing requirements implemented by the Bureau of Export Administration (BX) and Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC).

Pro Bono

Successfully defended a senior citizen from eviction for non-payment of rent before the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, Landlord and Tenant Branch.

Named as a Rising Star by Law360 in the area of International Trade Law, 2013.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for her work in the International Trade area, 2012 and 2014-2015, 2024.

William W. Scott Pro Bono Legal Services Award, 2004.

American Association of Exporters and Importers, Trade Policy Committee, co-chair

Trade Policy Forum

Washington International Trade Association