David J.M. Skillman

David Skillman advises firms on the development of federal law and legislation at the nexus of tax and trade, particularly with regard to areas of key national interest, such as semiconductors, intellectual property, critical minerals, and clean energy. He brings to his practice a deep understanding of the federal legislative and regulatory environment, having served for more than a decade as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counsel to Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Chairman of the Trade Subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means.

During the pandemic, David counseled numerous clients across industries as varied as education, travel and hospitality, performing arts, healthcare, and energy, and secured meaningful legislative changes to extend a lifeline to industries battered by the public health emergency.

On Capitol Hill, he led Chairman Blumenauer's negotiations for the House Democrats' Trade Working Group, as it sought changes necessary for Congressional approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. He also authored portions of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, played a key role in the enactment of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, and led Rep. Blumenauer’s work on the Timber Annex to the Peru FTA.