Joseph M. Spraragen is a partner in the Firm’s New York office. Joseph’s practice focuses on advising clients on federal regulatory compliance issues related to the import and export of goods. For import transactions, Joseph provides clients with guidance on classification, country of origin, free trade agreements, valuation, duty savings strategies, EPA and FDA requirements, and penalty matters. His export control practice covers OFAC sanctions, BIS license requirements, antiboycott, and FCPA. Joseph represents clients before federal agencies including CBP, DOJ, FTC, EPA, FDA, USDA, and USTR. He has helped clients from a wide range of industries to develop and implement efficient internal compliance programs.

Joseph also has extensive customs litigation experience, having appeared in over 400 cases before the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT). In 2021, in the largest case ever brought before the CIT, the court appointed Joseph to the 15-member plaintiffs steering committee out of the hundreds of attorneys who had filed to participate in the case, which challenges the imposition of additional duties on certain products from China. In a motion filed with the court, the DOJ recommended Joseph for the steering committee noting that he was “well-experienced and known to the Court.”

Prior to joining GDLSK, Joseph was an attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, representing the government in several large customs litigation cases. Joseph has spoken on customs and trade law issues at Georgetown University Law School, NYU School of Law, Brandeis University, on NPR, and before several trade associations. Joseph’s representative experience is expansive. He was lead counsel in AllStar Marketing Group LLC v. United States, where he successfully challenged a tariff classification on behalf of a consumer products company. Joseph has testified before USTR, and ITC regarding Section 301 and Section 232 duties. Joseph has secured tariff exclusions for a textiles importer. Joseph has obtained a favorable country of origin ruling on behalf of a global electronics company. Joseph’s representation resulted in the cancellation of a multimillion-dollar penalty assessment against a large apparel and footwear company. Joseph planned and drafted internal controls for import and export for a chemicals company and conducted training for the company’s personnel to ensure successful execution. Joseph obtained the release of detained merchandise wrongfully suspected of having been produced using unfair labor practices. Joseph’s representation resulted in a million-dollar duty refund on behalf of a European food company. Joseph guided an industrial manufacturing company proactively on production strategies to minimize duty exposure. His experience and ability to minimize damages in legal proceedings and lead proactively to minimize exposure make him invaluable in the industry.

New York University School of Law, J.D. (1996)

Brandeis University, B.A., magna cum laude (1992)

Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha

U.S. Court of International Trade (2000)

Southern District of New York (2003)

Eastern District of New York (2003)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2001)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2016)

U.S. Supreme Court (2017)

New York State Bar

Customs and International Trade Bar Association

New York State Bar Association

American Association of Exporters and Importers

Coalition of New England Companies for Trade

French American Chamber of Commerce

Italy-America Chamber of Commerce

Brandeis Lawyers Alumni Network