The Legal 500

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. advises blue-chip corporations and is increasingly assisting European associations such as The European Biodiesel Board, and ePURE (the European association of renewable ethanol producers). The team is advising the latter on an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy action against US imports of bioethanol into the EU. Practice head Olivier Prost is assisted by senior associate Alexis Massot.

Sidley Austin LLP ‘simply has incomparable experience’ in trade matters. The firm recently advised ENRC, one of the world’s leading natural resources groups, on the development of its global trade policy in view of climate change development. Arnoud Willems shows ‘good judgement’ and heads the Brussels team, which is part of a fully integrated global trade group and is therefore able to call on expertise in other offices when required. The firm regularly advises governments and trade associations on WTO and multilateral trade negotiations, as well as in bilateral and regional free trade agreement negotiations and global trade policy matters.

The ‘excellent’ VVGB Advocaten/Avocats is praised for its ‘outstanding level of service’, and clients say its knowledge of WTO trade and customs legislation is ‘unparalleled’. The ‘broadly experienced’ Marco Bronckers, the ‘highly competent’ Edwin Vermulst and Yves van Gerven, who excels in competition and regulatory matters, have helped to build the firm’s formidable reputation. Counsels Juhi Sud and Natalie McNelis and ‘excellent’ senior associate Simon van Cutsem are also recommended.

Van Bael & Bellis is highly regarded, particularly for its expertise in anti-dumping matters although the practice also handles a range of customs and WTO matters. Practice head Jean-François Bellis and Richard Luff recently represented The Dow Chemical Company in winning an appeal before the EU General Court against the imposition of anti-dumping duties relating to ethanolamine imports. Renato Antonini joined Jones Day in 2012.

Covington & Burling LLP provides ‘excellent service, fast response times’ and has ‘deep knowledge’. Trade remedies is a core focus of the practice, and ‘creative’ practice head Georg Berrisch has represented the Council of the European Union as outside counsel in anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases for over 20 years. Lisa Peets, who splits her time between London and Brussels, focuses on government affairs, IP, trade policy, and trade proceedings.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s ‘excellent’ practice advises on all aspects of trade matters and an increasing number of export control and economic sanctions issues. Clients include Qualitest FZE, Valero Renewables and Philips. Department head Lourdes Catrain has a strong reputation and is the current chair of the trade section of the International Law Association for Belgium.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP’s trade practice has gone from strength to strength since the ‘exceptionally dedicated’ Folkert Graafsma and the ‘deeply knowledgeable’ Konstantinos Adamantopoulos joined in 2011. Together this extensively experienced pair covers the sector comprehensively and recent work includes successfully representing Zhejiang Xinan Chemical Industrial Group against the EC in a significant anti-dumping case before the ECJ (Grand Chamber).

Mayer Brown’s ‘very good’ team regularly advises multinational clients on a range of trade and customs matters. Practice head Paulette Vander Schueren is ‘responsive and hardworking’, and has ‘a strong network of contacts’. Nikolay Mizulin has a niche practice handling Russia-related assignments, for example advising Gazprom on the implications of Russia’s WTO accession.

McDermott Will & Emery Belgium LLP’s ‘incredibly strong, fantastic and experienced’ lawyers provide international companies with WTO, trade and customs services, and the Brussels team often works with colleagues in Washington DC. The practice, which has a good reputation with the European courts, WTO and WCO, successfully represented chemicals company Celanese in an EU anti-dumping case. The ‘strategic’ Philip Bentley QC shows ‘attention to detail’, and the experienced Clive Stanbrook OBE QC is also recommended.

Squire Sanders LLP covers the spectrum of trade law matters and, unusually, handles anti-dumping matters for both defendants and complainants. European trade team head Vassilis Akritidis is expert in trade investigations. Robert MacLean specialises in anti-dumping and customs matters, and senior associates Jochen Beck and Yves Melin are also recommended.

Steptoe & Johnson LLP is best known for its trade remedies work but has developed its practice in other key areas such as litigation before the EU Courts and advising on bilateral EU FTA free trade agreement negotiations. Practice head James Searles is recognised for his EU-China trade expertise. Guy Soussan is also recommended.

White & Case LLP Avocats Advocaten’s Brussels and Geneva offices often work closely as part of the firm’s global trade practice. Contentious specialist James Killick successfully represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco (an industry-leading Saudi oil company) in EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases relating to imports of PET from Saudi Arabia. The ‘very knowledgeable and professional’ Jacquelyn MacLennan is recognised for her substantial customs expertise.

The Brussels team is a key part of Allen & Overy LLP’s global practice, and is particularly expert in EU related matters. Senior associate David Gabathuler is the key contact for trade matters and Dirk Arts specialises in EU law and competition.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s thriving trade practice is particularly strong at advising on financial services regulations. Till Müller-Ibold and James Modrall are the key contacts.

Crowell & Moring’s trade practice has continued to strengthen under the leadership of Laurent Ruessmann, who joined the firm in March 2011. Recent work includes advising Reed Elsevier regarding various US and EU export control and sanctions compliance issues, particularly regarding the expansion of the US and EU sanction regimes against Iran.

Dentons’ ‘excellent’ and ‘responsive’ trade team has numerous Russian-speakers, a point that has helped to attract work since Russia’s WTO accession. For example, the team successfully represented Russian Steel Consortium in the Brazilian anti-dumping case regarding the imports of heavy plate. The ‘professional’ Edward Borovikov is very well regarded. Bogdan Evtimov was promoted to the partnership in January 2012.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP advises international companies and governments on all aspects of barriers to trade and investment, and the firm’s geographical scope allows for an integrated cross-border service. Clients include BSkyB, CHS Platinum and Daiichi Sankyo. Highly regarded EU and WTO specialist Lode Van Den Hende has particular experience in the services and energy sectors. Michael Sánchez Rydelski was appointed as of counsel in November 2012.

WilmerHale’s international trade team works in conjunction with the firm’s Washington DC office to advise on trade remedies and WTO matters. Senior counsel Claus-Dieter Ehlermann is very highly regarded and has represented governments before the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. Consultant Jacques Bourgeois focuses on EU regulatory and WTO matters.

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP established its dedicated trade, customs and anti-dumping practice in 2011, which is ‘excellent in all respects’. The team advises on trade barriers, export controls and WTO compliance. Clients include Honeywell and John Deere. Practice head Vasiliki Avgoustidi is ‘knowledgeable and focused’.

Bird & Bird’s Iain MacVay works between the London and Brussels offices and leads the trade and customs group. The firm is particularly strong in customs enforcement, closely linked to the firm’s IP expertise and the practice is developing within the areas of export controls and economic sanctions.

Clifford Chance’s international trade group is integrated with the firm’s substantial EU regulatory and competition practices and fields trade law specialists in Brussels and Washington DC. Brussels office managing partner Tony Reeves is highly experienced in competition, trade and EU law.

Garrigues’ trade practice has gained several new clients as well as continuing to work for companies such as Celo Group on the framework modifications to the fasteners anti-dumping regulation. Managing partner José Luis Buendía and senior associate Angel Givaja regularly advise EAEPC (European Association of Euro-Pharmaceutical Companies) in various matters relating to pharmaceuticals product trade between EU member states and non-EU countries.

Jones Day launched its customs, trade and WTO practice after team head Renato Antonini joined the firm from Van Bael & Bellis in March 2012. Antonini has a wealth of experience in the area, particularly in trade defence. The practice has already gained a substantial client portfolio.

Mark Tricker heads Norton Rose LLP’s practice, which is particularly strong in competition matters. The firm successfully represented SKSH in anti-dumping proceedings initiated by the EC concerning imports of sodium cyclamate from China.

Ursula O’Dwyer heads the team at Philip Lee Solicitors, and is representing complainant trade association Eurofonte, and its members comprising eight EU-based foundries, in the expiry review of the anti-dumping measures on certain iron castings from China.