Carrie L. Owens

Carrie L. Owens is a Partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in Washington, D.C. who advises clients on international trade, customs enforcement, trade policy, market access, and national security issues. She brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of trade law and government enforcement. Her practice draws on senior roles at the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Commerce to help businesses address complex import, enforcement, and supply chain concerns.

Owens earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2000 and her B.A. in Political Science and International Studies, summa cum laude, from Virginia Tech in 1997. Her academic training preceded a career that combined private practice with extensive federal government service. That background supports her ability to interpret customs and trade rules, understand agency decision-making, and advise clients on how enforcement priorities and policy changes may affect commercial operations.

At CBP, Owens served as Director of Enforcement Operations in the Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Directorate and helped design investigative procedures under the Enforce and Protect Act. She also led work involving customs broker licensing, cargo targeting, duty drawback, foreign trade zones, bonding, protest procedures, trade remedies, and liquidation. At DHS, she worked on economic security issues including illicit trade, forced labor, counterfeit goods, critical minerals, duty evasion, and supply chain resilience.

Carrie L. Owens previously served as a senior attorney in the Department of Commerce’s trade enforcement practice, advising on antidumping and countervailing duty investigations and defending the government before courts and international tribunals. Her recognitions include the Department of Commerce Attorney of the Year Award, a CBP award for trade facilitation, and an intelligence community unit citation. She combines legal, operational, and policy experience to help clients navigate trade enforcement and cross-border risk.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
• Member, District of Columbia Bar
• Board Member, Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT)

Licensed State

• District of Columbia

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Virginia Tech
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and International Studies

Awards & Badges