Nicole Schude is an international trade and regulatory compliance attorney with extensive experience representing some of the world's largest multinationals as well as small and mid-sized businesses. A champion of companies with environmentally sustainable practices and social impact objectives, Ms. Schude resourcefully navigates the constantly changing landscape of U.S. trade policy to assist her clients as they manage their global operations.
With nearly twenty years of practice in international trade law, Ms. Schude is well-versed in the
development and implementation of comprehensive import and export compliance programs involving internal audits, supply chain security reviews, corporate compliance procedures, and employee training. She manages U.S. Customs audits, seizure releases, and investigations and has advocated her clients before Customs and Border Protection in disputes relating to valuation, classification, country of origin, and preferential tariff programs, among other issues. From commodity jurisdictions to embargoes and economic sanctions, Ms. Schude sees her clients through the intricacies of U.S. export controls policy and has successfully represented them before the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Bureau of the Census.
Ms. Schude's expertise extends beyond trade to matters of regulatory corporate compliance. She also advocates before the governmental bodies monitoring products in the U.S. market, such as the APHIS, CPSIA, DOL, DOE, DOT, EPA, FCC, FCPA, FDA, FTC, GSA, and USDA. Additionally, she advises clients on the acquisition of U.S. government procurement contracts, from product offerings on the GSA Schedule to engagements with individual agencies.
Certified as bilingual, Ms. Schude negotiates and drafts contracts in Spanish and English, working closely with experts in Latin America to ensure compliance with local import and tax laws. She leverages her global network of experts to help clients establish trade to and from jurisdictions worldwide.
While in law school, Ms. Schude served as a Judicial Intern for the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Immigration Court, Detroit, Michigan. Prior to her work as an attorney, she spent five years as a consultant in business strategy, international investment, and transfer pricing.
Admissions:
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Illinois
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United States Court of International Trade
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United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois
Education:
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Michigan State University College of Law & Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D. 2005)
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DePaul University (B.A. 2000)
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Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México (FIPSE 1998)
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Universidad Panamericana, Guadalajara, México (International Law Certificate 2004)