V V G B Advocaten-Avocats > Brussels, Belgium > Firm Profile
V V G B Advocaten-Avocats Offices
PLACE DES BARRICADES 13
1000 BRUSSELS
Belgium
V V G B Advocaten-Avocats > The Legal 500 Rankings
Belgium > Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping Tier 1
The team at V V G B Advocaten-Avocats is particularly well-versed in WTO litigation, and often advises clients on EU customs law, valuation, customs classification and rules of origin. The department represents clients active in an array of sectors including telecoms, tobacco, automobiles, aviation, chemicals, food processing and information technology. The team is co-led by Edwin Vermulst, whose expertise lies in anti-dumping, subsidies and safeguards, and Folkert Graafsma, an international trade and WTO law specialist who is a key name for anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters. Another notable name is Juhi Dion Sud; she has represented clients in multiple EU trade defence proceedings, as well as custom matters at the World Customs Organisations level. Joris Cornelis has extensive expertise in international trade law.Practice head(s):
Edwin Vermulst; Folkert Graafsma
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘VVGB has an outstanding team of lawyers who possess sound knowledge and capabilities in providing efficient legal services on Customs, trade, WTO and trade remedies. Edwin Vermulst has a good reputation in the market for his substantial experience and knowledge and is recognised as one of the top trade lawyers in the world.’
‘I have worked together with Edwin, Folker, Juhi and Joris. Apart from the experience and knowledge they have in this field of law, each of them is highly motivated, devoted to the clients, inclusive and most importantly listen.’
‘VVGB and Joris Cornelis puts forward a custom tailored approach for their client which I think is the most important aspect of this service. They are dedicated to the job and ready on time.’
‘Joris Cornelis is very talented and experienced in anti-dumping cases. His background brings valuable perspectives to the study and his advocacy proves to be sound and trustworthy.’
‘I consider VVGB the top trade firm in Europe, and it is always my first choice to recommend to clients, who have reported excellent treatment and results.’
‘I have worked closely with Edwin Vermulst since the 1980s and marvel at his ability to understand and explain concisely the most complex and novel trade issues, and his attention to detail and to client needs. I have also worked with Juhi Sud and Folkert Graafsma, who work at the same high level as Edwin.’
Key clients
The Vitra Group
The Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Motor Groups
TatMetal and Borcelik
The Electrosteel Group
Tsingshan Indonesia Group
EUSMET – Evonik Industries AG and Wacker Chemie AG
The Erdemir Group and the Colakoglu Group
The WACKER Group
Permata Hijau Group
The World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (“WFSGI”)
Sinopec
Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A (Usiminas )
Work highlights
- Represented The Vitra Group, the largest tile manufacture in Turkey, in an EU investigation concerning imports of ceramic tiles from Turkey.
- Represented the Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Motor groups in the extension and interim reviews concerning the EU’s steel safeguard measure and the EU’s proposal concerning the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Also advising the Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Motor groups on the legality of the proposal and assisting the client with strategic planning and lobbying.
- Represented the WACKER Group, one of largest EU/Global chemical companies in the following trade matters: a suspension investigation concerning the EU anti-dumping measure on polyvinyl alcohol from China, an anti-dumping investigation concerning silicone sealants from China and the EU’s anti-dumping investigation concerning graphite.
V V G B Advocaten-Avocats > Firm Profile
The firm: VVGB was founded in 1996 by Edwin Vermulst and has grown from two partners to 20 lawyers. The firm has been consistently ranked top for international and EU trade law in all leading directories, and its partners are recognised as thought leaders. In addition, the firm has a leading corporate and corporate finance practice focused in particular on the biotech, hi-tech and consumer goods industries, as well as a top notch environment health and safety (EHS) risk regulation and litigation practice. Finally the firm is equally well recognised for its outstanding international and cross-border tax practice.
Areas of practice: VVGB advises on all aspects of EU and international trade law and has many years of experience with the EU institutions. Internationally recognised for its expertise in trade defence instruments, the firm has played a leading role in trade remedy investigations and has been involved in virtually all major EU cases, including, among other recent examples,including Optical Fibre Cables, PVA, Biodiesel, Solar Panels, Silicon Metal, Solar Glass, Filament Glass Fibers, as well as multiple steel cases, such as Corrosion Resistant Steels, Hot-Rolled Flat Products SSHR,SSCR, GOES, Ductile Cast Iron Tubes and Pipes and the EU safeguard proceedings on imports of steel. VVGB also assists clients in third country trade defence cases; most recently, in the United Kingdom, Thailand, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia, India, Canada, the United States, China, Egypt and the Eurasian Economic Union. In addition, VVGB is also involved in other EU trade matters such as compliance and the EU’s negotiations of bilateral free trade and investment agreements.
In the field of WTO litigation, its partners have participated in numerous cases as members of delegations and have appeared before panels and the Appellate body. For example, VVGB represents the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of China in the AD/CVD on Wine (Australia) case. In the past, VVGB represented MOFCOM in the EU-Footwear and the EU-Renewable Energy Sector cases. VVGB also represented the Indonesian government in three WTO disputes concerning the EU’s cost adjustment practice in anti-dumping cases. One of the three disputes is the EU-Biodiesel from Indonesia case.
VVGB lawyers have also assisted DG TAXUD in WTO disputes regarding the Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products and the US challenge to the EU Customs Union and advised another WTO member in Large Civil Aircraft. The practice also advises governments and industries on potential WTO issues ranging from marketing bans on chemical products to climate change initiatives, rules’ negotiations, subsidies, agriculture and REACH
Apart from EU trade law, VVGB is highly acclaimed for its advice on EU customs law, including classification and compliance, valuation, rules of origin, and REM/REC. Similarly, the firm has advised on regulatory matters, such as the compatibility of EU domestic regulation with international trade obligations, and here it has special expertise in the intersection of intellectual property rights, competition law, EHS risk regulation and trade law. Finally, VVGB has extended its expertise in international arbitration and investment, including arbitral disputes between investors and states.
Next to its international and trade practice, the firm has a leading practice in the fields of EU regulatory law; competition law; and corporate, corporate finance, tax and contract law for the biotech, hi-tech and consumer goods industries. The firm has been and still is lead counsel to almost all (privately held and publicly listed) successful biotech companies in the Low Countries and a series of successful hi-tech and consumer goods companies.
In the EHS risk regulation and litigation practice, VVGB advises and represents clients in route to market strategies, compliance and enforcement issues, legal disputes (including ECHA-procedures, EU or domestic litigation) or legislative advocacy projects. The firm has particular expertise in agrochemicals (pesticides, fertilizers), biocides (BPR) and REACH/CLP cases (registration, compliance checks, substance evaluation and classification, RMOAs, etc) and other EU chemical control regulation (ROHS/WEEE, medical devices, food contact materials, packaging, waste and other regulated products, processes and circular economy matters etc). VVGB is known for successful handling of data sharing negotiations and efficient consortium (task force) counselling and management. The firm also has a particular high-end experience in the various areas of EU food law (including novel foods, additives, supplements, health/ nutrition claims and animal feed legislation.
VVGB’s EU competition and State aid team has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of EU and national competition law, ranging from cartels and abuse of dominance to merger clearance and State aid. We have developed a thorough understanding of the workings of the European Commission and the Belgian and Dutch competition authorities, enhanced through high-level contacts. In addition, we have a rich competition litigation practice with lawyers who frequently appear before the European and national courts.
VVGB’s Corporate practice is composed of lawyers who are recognized as being among the very best in their field and who benefit from a reputation of excellence in particular in M&A and private equity transactions. The practice group also has extensive expertise in cross-border joint ventures, corporate restructurings, project finance and capital markets work, including IPO, privatization and securitization work. It has a particularly strong expertise in investment structuring and company restructurings, including from a tax optimization perspective. The corporate team advises and provides assistance with respect to national and cross-border corporate restructurings (mergers, split-ups, spin-offs, etc.); all types of equity or debt offerings and transactions (IPO’s, secondary issuances, share repurchases, capital increases or decreases, issuance of warrants, bonds and convertible bonds, etc); and company secretarial services (holding of annual general meetings, appointment of directors, etc.)
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
EU trade | Edwin Vermulst | eve@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 84 |
EU trade | Folkert Graafsma | fgr@vvgb-law.com | +32 475 517 824 |
International trade/WTO litigation | Edwin Vermulst | eve@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 84 |
International trade/WTO litigation | Folkert Graafsma | fgr@vvgb-law.com | +32 475 517 824 |
EU customs | Edwin Vermulst | eve@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 84 |
EU customs | Peter Verhaeghe | peter.verhaeghe@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 80 |
EU customs | Folkert Graafsma | fgr@vvgb-law.com | +32 475 517 824 |
EU customs | Peter Kugel | peter.kugel@vvgb-law.com | +32 2 542 07 86 |
International investment | Peter Verhaeghe | peter.verhaeghe@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 80 |
International investment | Edwin Vermulst | eve@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 84 |
International investment | Folkert Graafsma | fgr@vvgb-law.com | +32 475 517 824 |
EU competition and state aid | Marco Slotboom | marco.slotboom@vvgb-law.com | +32 2 210 59 86 |
Environment health and safety risk regulation | Peter Kugel | peter.kugel@vvgb-law.com | +32 2 542 07 86 |
EU and national corporate and corporate finance | Peter Verhaeghe | peter.verhaeghe@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 80 |
International, EU and national tax | Peter Verhaeghe | peter.verhaeghe@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 80 |
International, EU and national biotech | Peter Verhaeghe | peter.verhaeghe@vvgb-law.com | + 32 2 542 07 80 |
Meet The Team(s)
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Emmanuel Casier | Associate | View Profile | |
Dr Joris Cornelis | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Marcel-Pierre Den Ouden | Consultant | View Profile | |
Ms Juhi Dion Sud | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Folkert Graafsma | Partner (Co-founder) | View Profile | |
Mr Peter Kugel | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Viktoriia Mykuliak | Associate | View Profile | |
Ms Camilla Nervegna | Associate | View Profile | |
Dr Akhil Raina | Associate | View Profile | |
Mr Marco Slotboom | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Marie Van Luchene | Associate | View Profile | |
Mr Yannick Vandenplas | Associate | View Profile | |
Mr Peter Verhaeghe | Partner (Co-founder) | View Profile | |
Dr Edwin Vermulst | Partner (Co-founder) | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 20Languages
Dutch English French German Hindi Ukrainian Spanish Russian Italian- Customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping