Robert C. Cassidy is a founding partner of Cassidy Levy Kent (USA) LLP. Mr. Cassidy focuses on legal issues raised by cross-border business transactions, including antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings, economic sanctions, export controls and customs issues. He is experienced in devising strategies for using trade law procedures, such as the antidumping laws, to achieve business objectives and in resolving disputes between companies and the U.S. government arising from sanctions, export controls and customs laws.

Mr. Cassidy served as General Counsel of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from 1979-1981 and International Trade Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance from 1975-1979. As General Counsel of USTR, Mr. Cassidy was the senior legal officer of the U.S. government responsible for issues arising under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. He oversaw U.S. implementation of the agreements reached in the Tokyo Round of Multinational Trade Negotiations and was the lead U.S. negotiator with Japan on market access issues, including procurement by Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation. As International Trade Counsel to the Finance Committee, Mr. Cassidy was a creator of the procedures for consideration of legislation implementing trade agreements — procedures known today as the “fast track” or “trade promotion authority” procedures. He was also a primary architect of the modern antidumping and countervailing duty statutes enacted in the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

Mr. Cassidy was a partner at WilmerHale until 2007, where he was leader of the firm’s International Practice Group and the Trade Group. Mr. Cassidy established Cassidy Levy Kent (USA) LLP in early 2009.

Education

LL.M., Georgetown University, 1977

J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1973

B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1968