A native of the State of Arizona, Mr. Apfel received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs in 2005 with a focus in Chinese Politics from the George Washington University (“GWU”). While at GWU, he was accepted to and attended Pembroke College, Cambridge University in the United Kingdom where he studied modern Chinese history. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law School (“GW Law”) in 2008. While at GW Law, Mr. Apfel was active at various levels in both the International Law Society and Student Intellectual Property Association. While at GW Law, Mr. Apfel was selected to be a research assistant for trade law professor Steve Charnovitz and Chinese Law professor Donald Clarke.
Mr. Apfel also written various papers, articles and comments on various public and private international legal issues and also was a contributor for tradlawnews.com, an international trade law/customs law website and blog.
Mr. Apfel is a member of both the New York and District of Columbia Bars and is admitted as an attorney-counselor before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Mr. Apfel has specialized in the areas of public international law, international arbitration and investment disputes, international business transactions and civil suits against foreign sovereign states in domestic courts. His work has led Mr. Apfel to live in Beijing, New York City and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Apfel is also a specialist on China and is focused on China related trade and legal issues. He is a member of the Washington based China Hands Group. Mr. Apfel has interned in US Senate, Canadian Embassy, Asia Society and the CATO Institute in Washington, DC. In 2005, he clerked at the Office of the Legal Advisor at the US Department of State where he assisted in the formulation of private international legal treaties in banking and secured transactions at the Private International Law section.
Mr. Apfel is conversational in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.