The Legal 500

‘Top notch’ Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s small, but very well supported team is recommended for anti-dumping, WTO trade disputes, plus increasing advice on the export of dual-use goods and EU export authorisations. Olivier Prost, recommended for ‘very quick and clear answers’, and his ‘cost-conscious approach’, is ‘very clever, a brilliant head of the team, and expert in his field of law’. Erwan Berthelot is ‘very professional, easy to contact, and skilled’. The team successfully concluded an EU complaint against US Biodiesel, WTO litigation on large civil aircraft, and acted in Indian trade defence claims (including anti-dumping cases, such as hot-rolled steel products). Clients include the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Roquette Frères, ArcelorMittal and DG Trade. Ex-French government lawyer Alexis Massot joined the team.

Sidley Austin LLP’s Arnoud Willems is ‘one of the smartest lawyers on anti-dumping and import duty issues I know’, who ‘does not hide behind difficult words, options and caveats; he provides real practical advice’. Richard Weiner delivers advice ‘in a timely and efficient manner’. Whether arguing ECJ anti-dumping litigation for Chinese footwear manufacturers, or multiple General Court anti-dumping cases, the team – ‘hard-working, diligent, well educated and superb at analysing risks’ – represents an enviable client list which includes Unilever, Eurofer, Clarks and Westland. Export control and customs advice is proffered for 3M, and Delta Products; market access work is increasing; and it represents Brazil, Canada, Japan and Norway in WTO cases. Laurent Ruessman left in 2010 to set up his own practice, but continues to work with the firm.

Van Bael & Bellis’ possesses real depth; with experienced names Fabrizio Di Gianni (‘professionalism and leadership’), Benoît Servais (‘the shining star’), Richard Luff (‘commercially-relevant, and focused’), team leader, Jean-François Bellis (‘tailored advice’) and Philippe de Baere (‘logical and practical’). The team promoted Renato Antonini and Yuriy Rudyuk to partner. It assisted clients in 18 cases initiated by the Commission over 2009, and was successful in two of the three cases in which anti-dumping duties were annulled by the EU courts. It also acts in the fasteners anti-dumping case, the first case in which China has challenged EU anti-dumping measures. Clients include Canon and LG.

Vermulst Verhaeghe Graafsma & Bronckers has ‘excellent trade policy lawyers’, with ‘a formidable reputation’, and ‘always seem available, whichever part of the world, and at whatever time I call them’. Edwin Vermulst is ‘very helpful on critical issues’; Folkert Graafsma ‘understands anti-dumping and anti-subsidy law very well’; and Marco Bronckers has ‘a sound political network relevant for gathering crucial intelligence’. The team has extensive knowledge on WTO law and procedure, and anti-subsidy/anti-dumping, including acting in the fasteners case before the General Court. Senior associate Juhi Sud is ‘on top of the issues’.

Covington & Burling LLP’s legal arguments are ‘consistently well-drafted and well-structured’ and demonstrate ‘a huge accumulation of know-how’. Georg Berrisch has a reputation as an ‘excellent, smart and professional’ lawyer, whose advocacy is ‘very clear’, appearing in four appeals to the ECJ in 2010. With a unique position in representing the Council of Ministers in anti-dumping cases, the firm also has an excellent reputation amongst corporate clients. Highlights included the aluminium wheels and seamless pipes and tubes cases, four cases regarding steel fasteners, and advice on sanctions and export controls.

Herbert Smith LLP has ‘a feeling of substance and sanity’; its ‘services have always been of a high quality’, and lawyers are ‘knowledgeable’. Lode van der Hende is a recognised figure, whilst Craig Pouncey heads the team. Advice on market access sits alongside WTO counselling and litigation, where it advises governments on the impact of export controls in emerging markets; it continues to lobby hard for the Remote Gambling Association; and handled £100m-valued litigation for BSkyB, on the impact of customs duties, on set-top boxes with hard disks.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s Lourdes Catrain is ‘very professional in trade defence, including on the political structuring of issues’ She has a ‘good network with stakeholders in Brussels’. With the merger of the legacy firms complete, there is clear feedback that the firm has exploited client synergies between now-larger US/EU operations and contacts in emerging markets such as China; familiar EU markets are not forgotten, as it acts for a number of EU trade associations in anti-dumping cases, and also acts for Philips.

McDermott Will & Emery/Stanbrook LLP has a highly experienced trio of trade lawyers in Clive Stanbrook QC, Philip Bentley QC and Frank Schoneveld. The two silks bring premium-quality advocacy experience to working with government teams, arguing cases before the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO. The ‘timely and transparent’team also has targeted industry experience of the aviation sector, and it assists key emerging markets, including Turkey. Clients include Polyplex.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey (UK) LLP is ‘professional and efficient, with reasonable charges and teamwork’. It represents large industrial clients in high-profile trade actions and litigation before the General Court, with 2009 focused on the Indian, Korean and Chinese markets as well as the EU. Clients include Viraj Profiles, one of India’s largest stainless steel producers, Daewoo and Samyang. Lobbying, market access and customs law are all handled by the team. Clients say the lawyers are ‘dedicated, open-minded and client-focused team players’. The firm saw the exit of former managing partner Konstantinos Adamantopoulos in April 2010, the promotion to partner of Vassilis Akritidis, and the arrival of a well-known Brussels trade lawyer in Robert MacLean and his team, from Crowell & Moring, in October 2010.

Steptoe & Johnson LLP’s practice offering spans anti-dumping, WTO advisory and General Court/ECJ litigation. James Searles is a ‘key expert in trade defence issues’; the team has acted for Chinese clients in a number of anti-dumping claims, but it has also advised Korean, Hong Kong and Indian clients. Iain McVey’s ‘advice is timely, accurate, business sensitive and invariably helpful’; he had multiple WTO wins in 2009-10. Daniel Lorello made partner.

White & Case LLP Avocats Advocaten’s James Killick and of counsel Richard King ‘are a good team. ‘Richard’s considerable experience balances well with James’s deep knowledge and enthusiasm on trade matters’. Ian Forrester QC is also praised for his gravitas. Clients say the ‘advice provided has always been clear and timely’. Alongside an upswing in anti-dumping cases, the team’s export control, WTO litigation, and customs advice has been in particular demand from ASEAN, Chinese and Indian clients. Jacquelyn MacLennan has advised Transammonia and Celanese.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s Till Müller-Ibold is recommended for ‘a deep analysis of legal issues combined with a very responsive attitude towards the client’. The wise counsel of John Temple Lang and Asger Petersen, a ‘wealth of experience and knowledge’, is also praised by clients. The team acted for Whirlpool, in a safeguards investigation launched by Ukraine as regards refrigerators and freezers.

Clifford Chance has been advising The City UK on trade issues relating to the UK immigration cap, (relating to existing bilateral trade agreements), and acting for Cermaq on the EC anti-dumping review of imports of Norwegian salmon. Tony Reeves is recommended.

Crowell & Moring is praised for ‘very good service’ in the areas of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy law, customs law, unilateral and bilateral trade remedies as well as market access strategies, across a real client spectrum, from traditional manufacturing to advanced optical media storage. Robert MacLean, plus one associate, left to join Squire, Sanders & Dempsey (UK) LLP. Emmanuel Gybels, managing partner, is now the firm’s Brussels contact. Clients include Rio Tinto.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Frank Montag and Thomas Wessely remain key contacts. Wessely acted for chemical providers Borealis, DSM, Pulawy and Azomures in relation to an anti-dumping investigation against the import of melamine from China.

Mayer Brown’s Paulette Vander Schueren ’delivers an excellent job’, and is the chief contact at the firm, recognised for her strong customs practice, as well as a broad geographical spread of work. Clients include manufacturers and trade associations. Edward Borovikov and his team left to set up the Brussels office of Salans.

Philip Lee Solicitors’ Ursula O’Dwyer brings ‘experience and a good knowledge of the European Commission’ to clients who are ‘very satisfied with the service’ delivered in anti-dumping cases. She acts for long-term client Eurofonte, pursuing actions against circumvention of duties and fraud by Chinese exporters.

Salans, led by Edward Borovikov, has set up a seven-lawyer office in Brussels, with a well-regarded trade team at its core. Its experience in anti-dumping cases has seen work for major Russian, Chinese, US and Turkish companies and associations, particularly in the steel, aluminium and chemical industries.

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP’s Jacques Bourgeois, is the senior counsel maintaining the firm’s customs, trade, and anti-dumping practice. He intervened on behalf of the European Industrial Fasteners Institute in the General Court in an antidumping case.