Lowenstein Sandler is pleased to announce that Ola Craft has joined the firm as Senior Trade Advisor in the Global Trade & National Security group. She will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.

Craft has over a decade of experience as a strategic trade leader, implementing export control regulations and policies at the highest levels of government, including with the National Security Council (NSC), Department of State, Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Prior to joining Lowenstein, Craft served as Director of Strategic Trade and Nonproliferation with the NSC, leading U.S. strategic trade and nonproliferation policy development; guiding policy makers towards creative solutions to global and national security concerns; and advising on sanctions, export controls, and multilateral and bilateral engagements with international partners.

During her time in government, Craft represented the U.S. government in international engagements with Australia, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Japan, NATO, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Zambia, to name a few.

Doreen M. Edelman, Chair of the firm’s Global Trade & National Security group, says: “Ola has been instrumental in developing U.S. trade policy over the past ten years, in her roles at the highest levels of government. This perspective and experience will enable her to provide our clients with invaluable strategic counsel on all aspects of commercial and military/defense product export classification determinations, licensing and trade policy as with regard to CFIUS and outbound foreign investment restrictions.”

Craft says: “I am thrilled to be working with Doreen and her team, and I look forward to leveraging my experience in government to guide global companies in effectively navigating the current trade environment in ways that will meet and exceed their business objectives.”

In addition to her work for the NSC, Craft’s other government roles have included:

  • Acting Chief & Compliance Specialist and Licensing Officer in the Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), where she worked to ensure civil compliance with the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and license defense articles for export globally;
  • Director of the Munitions Control Division in the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), where she led licensing, compliance, classification determinations, and foreign and regulatory policy related to munitions items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), supporting CFIUS and outbound foreign investment reviews; and
  • Export Analyst for the Navy International Programs Office, where she analyzed and evaluated global dual use commercial technology and defense technology export license applications.

Craft received her B.A. from the University of Toronto with honors and her M.A. from Johns Hopkins University.

About Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Lowenstein Sandler is a national law firm with over 350 lawyers based in New York, Palo Alto, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents leaders in virtually every sector of the global economy, with particular emphasis on investment funds, life sciences, and technology. Recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit and high standard of client service, the firm is committed to the interests of its clients, colleagues, and communities.