Nathan M. F. Charles, Esq.

Owner & Managing Partner

Nathan M. F. Charles founded Charles International Law to represent people and organizations confronting immigration, international, national-security, and human-rights matters that cross borders or involve federal agencies. His practice draws on experience as a federal prosecutor, military officer, government attorney, and educator.

Practice Focus

Nathan’s work centers on immigration and international law, including asylum and humanitarian protection, removal defense, family- and employment-based immigration, consular matters, citizenship and naturalization, and cases involving military, intelligence, political, sanctions, export-control, or terrorism-related facts. He also advises on national-security and international legal issues and supports matters requiring careful analysis of events across jurisdictions.

Professional Philosophy

Nathan approaches each matter by first identifying the legal question, the factual record, and the government decision-maker. He works to explain risk in direct language, build evidence deliberately, and prepare clients for the procedural steps ahead. His operational and public-service background informs a disciplined approach to cases where law, policy, conflict, and personal safety intersect.

Experience That Matters

Before entering private practice, Nathan served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. His LinkedIn profile also records service as an Assistant District Attorney with the Alaska Department of Law, a judicial law clerk at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and Deputy Chief of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations’ COVID-19 Crisis Response Cell. He currently serves as Owner and Managing Partner of Charles International Law and as a Senior Attorney-Consultant with Lexpat Global Services.

Education and Admissions

Nathan earned a Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from the United States Naval Academy. He completed JPME Level I through the U.S. Naval War College and holds a graduate certificate in Homeland Intelligence from National Intelligence University. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Service and Perspective

Nathan previously served as a U.S. Navy SEAL Officer and in other U.S. government roles spanning national security, intelligence, and crisis response. That experience gives him practical context for matters involving armed conflict, foreign governments, security vetting, military service, export controls, and clients whose cases cannot be understood through legal doctrine alone.

Teaching and Public Commentary

From 2022 through 2023, Nathan served as an adjunct professor at American University, teaching Origins of Terrorism and Political Violence and Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Practice. He also contributes public legal analysis through Charles International Law’s Policy Analysis program and the Rule of Law Brief.

Selected Roles and Public Service

Owner & Managing Partner — Charles International Law (2020–present)

Senior Attorney-Consultant — Lexpat Global Services (2021–present)

Adjunct Professor — American University (2022–2023)

Federal Prosecutor — U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division (2015–2020)

Judicial Law Clerk — Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (2013–2014)

U.S. Navy SEAL Officer — Naval Special Warfare