David Ross’s practice draws on his extensive experience in trade negotiation and international dispute settlement to assist clients in the removal of market access barriers and other impediments to exporting goods and services and investing around the world. He also provides trade policy advice on a wide variety of matters, including US legislation, trade remedies and the negotiation of international agreements. Mr. Ross joined WilmerHale after spending four years as international trade counsel to the Republican staff of the Senate Finance Committee. 

While serving with the finance committee, Mr. Ross advised member, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and Republican staff on trade and economic issues including services, intellectual property, investment, currency/exchange rates, climate, labor, trade adjustment assistance and World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement. Mr. Ross provided policy guidance on trade and economic matters involving trade with China, Europe and the Russian Federation, and he negotiated and drafted trade legislation on issues falling within the finance committee’s jurisdiction.

Before joining the finance committee, Mr. Ross spent eight years as associate general counsel in the Office of the US Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President (USTR), where he was responsible for legal matters involving services and financial services, subsidies, antidumping measures and safeguards. Mr. Ross served as lead counsel for the United States in numerous dispute settlement proceedings before the WTO, including the successful US challenges to EU subsidies for large civil aircraft and Mexican antidumping duties on imports of US rice. Mr. Ross also served as the chief US lawyer in the negotiation of the free trade agreement with Chile and as the services and financial services lawyer in free trade agreement negotiations with Australia, Morocco, Bahrain and Oman.

From 1993-1997, Mr. Ross was an attorney-adviser in the Office of the Chief Counsel for Import Administration, US Department of Commerce. Mr. Ross provided legal advice to the Import Administration (IA) on its regulatory responsibilities under the US trade remedy laws and defended IA determinations before US courts and NAFTA panels. He also was extensively involved in the negotiation and administration of the antidumping suspension agreements on uranium and honey.

In addition to his public service, Mr. Ross has worked as an associate in the international section of a Washington DC law firm. 

Professional Activities

Mr. Ross is a member of the International Trade Update (ITU) Advisory Board and ABA Task Force on National Interest and Competition Law. He is also a member of the US Court of International Trade and the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.