The global commercial marketplace is rapidly becoming both more complex and interwoven. Few attorneys understand the opportunities and dynamics of global trade better than David Robinson. He has assisted clients in cross-border transactions around the world. He has been to over 50 countries. He has run two US subsidiaries of foreign companies. David knows when “yes” means yes and when it means no, and he knows the importance of cultural understanding in international commerce. He helps global businesses integrate corporate compliance and operational programs into subsidiary operations, facilitate the transfer of personnel among operations, comply with export control and boycott regulations, and negotiate commercial and joint venture relationships. Whether your business is a seasoned competitor on the global stage or just ‘testing the waters’ of foreign opportunities, David can help level your ‘playing field.’
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US Supreme Court
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US Court of International Trade
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North Carolina Supreme Court
- Honorary Consul of Japan for North Carolina
- Chairman, NC Consular Corps
- NC Bar Association, Board of Governors Member
- NC Bar Foundation, Director
- Law Faculty, Campbell University School of Law
- Past Chair of the International Law and Practice Section of the NC Bar Association (David served two terms in this position)
- Board of Advisors of the NC Japan Center
- Former Deputy Director of the NC Japan Center
- Former Director of the NC China Center steering committee
- Wake Tech Business and Industry Services Advisory Committee
- Wake Tech Community College, Former Trustee
- North Carolina Export Outreach Program: Lecturer and Program Planner
- Former President/Director of the Nippon Club
- Fellow of the Institute of Political Leadership
- Fellow of the BCBSNC Healthy Community Institute
- Former American Red Cross “Outstanding Volunteer” and Disaster Team Member
- Rotary International - Paul Harris Fellow
- Past Chair, Wake County Board of Elections
- Past Director, Charlotte International Arbitration Society
- Chairman, Educational Growth Across Oceans/Animazement
- Director, Investor Services Company of America
- Director, Secretary and Founding Member, Japan-America Society of North Carolina
- Chairman, Conservatives for Criminal Justice Reform
- Former Director, Raleigh/Bunkyo-ku Sister City Organization
- Former Member, Coalition for Global Competitiveness
- Member, Wake County Economic Development Foreign Direct Investment Committee
- Counsel, One World Health
- Counsel, Veterans Life Center
- 10th Judicial District Bar Association
- Invest in USA, Former Best Practices Committee Member
- Proficient in Japanese
Overview
The global commercial marketplace is rapidly becoming both more complex and interwoven. Few attorneys understand the opportunities and dynamics of global trade better than David Robinson. He has assisted clients in cross-border transactions around the world. He has been to over 50 countries. He has run two US subsidiaries of foreign companies. David knows when “yes” means yes and when it means no, and he knows the importance of cultural understanding in international commerce. He helps global businesses integrate corporate compliance and operational programs into subsidiary operations, facilitate the transfer of personnel among operations, comply with export control and boycott regulations, and negotiate commercial and joint venture relationships. Whether your business is a seasoned competitor on the global stage or just ‘testing the waters’ of foreign opportunities, David can help level your ‘playing field.’
- Honorary Consul of Japan for North Carolina
- Chairman, NC Consular Corps
- NC Bar Association, Board of Governors Member
- NC Bar Foundation, Director
- Law Faculty, Campbell University School of Law
- Past Chair of the International Law and Practice Section of the NC Bar Association (David served two terms in this position)
- Board of Advisors of the NC Japan Center
- Former Deputy Director of the NC Japan Center
- Former Director of the NC China Center steering committee
- Wake Tech Business and Industry Services Advisory Committee
- Wake Tech Community College, Former Trustee
- North Carolina Export Outreach Program: Lecturer and Program Planner
- Former President/Director of the Nippon Club
- Fellow of the Institute of Political Leadership
- Fellow of the BCBSNC Healthy Community Institute
- Former American Red Cross “Outstanding Volunteer” and Disaster Team Member
- Rotary International - Paul Harris Fellow
- Past Chair, Wake County Board of Elections
- Past Director, Charlotte International Arbitration Society
- Chairman, Educational Growth Across Oceans/Animazement
- Director, Investor Services Company of America
- Director, Secretary and Founding Member, Japan-America Society of North Carolina
- Chairman, Conservatives for Criminal Justice Reform
- Former Director, Raleigh/Bunkyo-ku Sister City Organization
- Former Member, Coalition for Global Competitiveness
- Member, Wake County Economic Development Foreign Direct Investment Committee
- Counsel, One World Health
- Counsel, Veterans Life Center
- 10th Judicial District Bar Association
- Invest in USA, Former Best Practices Committee Member
- Proficient in Japanese
Notable
The International Team at Nexsen Pruet has just about seen it all: from structuring complex foreign investments in the Carolinas to airlifting cattle to Turkey, from exporting just the right kind of wood to Japan for temple construction to distribution sales of hot tubs in the Middle East, from facilitating the transfer of US workers abroad to importing the best talent from overseas into the US, and from the sale of sophisticated export controlled technologies to chicken legs, Nexsen Pruet lawyers have been involved. When you start selling to overseas markets, David will let you know which US laws will follow you around the globe, and which new laws you’ll likely encounter. With law firm relationships in 75 of the major commercial centers of the world, we can also help clients obtain precise and timely answers to their foreign law questions.
Speaking & Writing
- Nexsen Pruet announces 2018 Julian Nexsen Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award recipient
January 7, 2019 - Pro Bono Champion: David Robinson and the NC Veterans Life Center
June 7, 2018 - Nexsen Pruet's David Robinson Named to Board of State Bar Association
June 25, 2018 - Kon'nichiwa, NCBA: Attorney Exchange Program Immerses Travelers In Japanese Business, Culture
March 8, 2018 - Nexsen Pruet Attorneys Join NCBA in Japan
October 19, 2017 - To protect Americans, amend or repeal JASTA
November 28, 2016 - "N.C. manufacturers mull strategy after Trump announces U.S. withdrawal from TPP"
February 7, 2017 - "President Trump and Trade"
February 7, 2017 - "David Robinson: A Tokyo-to-N.C. Connector"
August 19, 2015 - "Endorsement: Kasich for America Announces its North Carolina State Leadership Team"
December 11, 2015 - David Robinson to Serve as Honorary Consul to Japan; Raleigh Attorney Appointed by Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
April 15, 2015 - Charlotte International Arbitration Society Announcement
January 14, 2015 - "Documented Customs Challenges: Avoiding Customs Delays Brought On By Poor Document Preparation"
June 3, 2014 - David Robinson Receives Dortch Award for International Law Excellence
March 5, 2014 - "David Robinson Named Flag Day Man of the Year"
June 13, 2014 - "Export Raleigh"
January 30, 2014 - Nexsen Pruet International Law Group Scores Major Victory at U.S. Court of International Trade
January 11, 2013 - Nexsen Pruet Attorney Diana Aguillon becomes North Carolina’s First and Only Foreign Legal Consultant
January 30, 2013 - Changes Ahead for North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance System
February 11, 2013
- International Maritime Boundaries - Lunch and Learn Series
December 12, 2014 - 2017 Employment Law Certificate Series: Building Workplaces that Win
February 8, 2017 - Introduction to Bringing Business Owners, Investors, and Workers into the United States
November 1, 2017 - 2018 Employment Law Certificate Series: Building Workplaces that Win
December 12, 2018
- Enough Progress? Taking a closer look as the U.S. - China trade truce nears the halfway point.
January 25, 2019 - U.S. Trade Dispute with China - September 2018 Update
September 27, 2018 - U.S. Trade Dispute with China - August 2018 Update
August 20, 2018 - U.S. Trade Dispute with China - July 2018 Update
July 27, 2018 - Immigration: Waiting in Line at a U.S. Consulate Abroad
March 15, 2017 - Trans-Pacific Partnership
October 26, 2016 - "Welcome To a Newer, Bigger, Better Trade Zone"
October 17, 2016 - Deadline: Bureau of Economic Analysis Filing Deadline is May 29, 2015
May 5, 2015 - White House Initiative on Immigration
November 24, 2014 - Independent Contractors: The NLRB Refines its Standards
November 6, 2014 - Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Actions
January 11, 2013 - EB-5 Immigrant Investor Process
January 11, 2013
David regularly presents on cross-border legal issues. He has written and taught an MBA-level International Business Ethics course. He has lectured on a variety of cross-cultural topics to first graders through seasoned lawyers. David is currently teaching "Business Organizations" and "Global Corporate Compliance" at Campbell University Law School. He was the international CLE planner for the NC Bar Association’s Annual Meetings of the Business and International Law Sections of the Bar in 2014, and recently chaired the International Law Section for a second time. He is also a recipient of the highest award accorded to an international lawyer by the NC Bar Association. As Chairman of the Wake County Board of Elections he was frequently interviewed on elections law issues.
Outside Nexsen Pruet
David is an active athlete. He is a competitive swimmer and has completed dozens of triathlons and road races including several marathons, a Half Ironman, and a Full Ironman Triathlon. He has competed as a member of Team USA at four World Triathlon Championships; most recently in Spain in 2019. David is an Ambassador of USA Triathlon, the governing body of the sport.
He is a member of an award-winning race car team.
He has voted in 28 straight elections and as Chairman of the Wake County Board of Elections, he oversaw the largest county voting operation in North Carolina.
As a Trustee of Wake Tech he helped oversee the largest community college in NC and one of the fastest growing community colleges in the Nation.
He and his wife, Sue, have been married for 30 years and they live in Raleigh.
