Our international Trade & Customs Group advises businesses all over the world on global, EU and domestic issues affecting cross-border trade and distribution, drawing on the firm’s strengths in sectors such as telecoms, life sciences, e-commerce, financial services, media and IT.
We have experienced lawyers across our network of offices in Europe with considerable experience of helping clients establish tax-efficient international procurement and supply chains while keeping compliance costs to a minimum.
Our advice covers export and import controls, tariff-and non-tariff-based trade barriers, rules of origin, customs classifications and valuations, food and product safety, packaging and labelling, dual-use goods and technologies. We also advise on the harmonization and globalisation of international trade and customs regulation across all EFTA countries.
Our sector-based approach means we have specialist expertise on issues such as the WTO Information Technology Agreement for IT and telecoms products, and advising those involved in patent and technology disputes on the strategic use of TRIPS border measures.
Our lawyers regularly represent clients before EU and national customs and administrative courts as well as before the ECJ and advisory committees of the European Commission. Lawyers from different offices are used to working together to ensure clients receive continuity of care, a truly international perspective on the issues affecting their business as well as the best solutions reflecting our collective know-how and expertise.
We pride ourselves on being able to make clear sense of complex rules and procedures, seeing the bigger commercial picture beyond the legal detail and on tenacious yet clear-sighted action to promote our clients’ best interests.
Heads of Group: Jasper Helder & René Voigtländer