Akin regularly provide advice to governments and private sector clients on leveraging WTO rules to overcome market access barriers as well as providing support in designing frameworks that are WTO-compliant. The team not only handles WTO dispute settlement and trade policy and trade negotiations, but also has expertise in trade remedies, trade compliance, and national security and investment screening, Alan Yanovich, who heads the practice, is an ‘experienced lawyer’ with extensive knowledge of international trade and investment matters at the multilateral, regional, and bilateral levels. Jasper Helder’s clients rely on him to assist with developing and executing mitigation strategies for trade compliance. Other key team members include Stephen Kho, who handles matters related to trade policy and international dispute resolution, and Chiara Klaui, who advises clients on EU, Swiss and UK trade compliance and drafts and supports the implementation of policies and procedures.
WTO in Switzerland
Akin
Practice head(s):
Alan Yanovich
Other key lawyers:
Jasper Helder; Stephen Kho; Chiara Klaui
Testimonials
‘Akin Gump’s presence in Geneva gives them a particular advantage in comparison to other firms that have an international trade law practice. Having a presence facilitates the coordination with WTO members missions in Geneva.’
‘Akin Gump’s practice in Geneva comprises lawyers with WTO law experience, including WTO dispute settlement procedures. Alan Yanovich’s expertise in WTO law and practice gives them an additional advantage. He is an experienced lawyer, having even worked in the WTO appelate body and represented clients in several WTO cases.’
‘Alan Yanovich has a in-depth knowledge and quite high ability in understanding the client’s needs. He comes up with innovative and useful ideas to help the clients.’
‘The practice is swift and greatly accessible. They are always responsive to any request and questions.’
‘Very strong WTO dispute and legal practices. Strong economic matter insights as well.’
‘Steve Kho and Alan Yanovich are the strongest in this field.’
Key clients
Eastman Chemical Company
Government of Costa Rica
Government of Japan
Government of Korea, Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry (MOTIE)
Government of the United Arab Emirates
Johnson & Johnson
Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM)
Ministry of Economy of the UAE
Mitsui & Co
Pfizer
Raytheon Technologies Corporation
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Work highlights
- Advising Costa Rica regarding antidumping duties imposed on exports of steel bars to the Dominican Republic.
- Retained by the UAE Ministry of Economy to provide legal and strategic advice as it embarked on a series of negotiations of free trade agreements with key trading partners.
- Advising a company on trade compliance with EU, US and other sanctions, export controls and international trade regulations, including in relation to the Russia sanctions impact on global shipping operations and vessel chartering.
White & Case S.A.
White & Case S.A. has extensive experience working with governments and private clients in defending and advising on WTO disputes and trade remedies cases. The team handles a portfolio of international matters, working closely with its teams located in other jurisdictions. Team head Jasper Wauters
, advises several high-profile clients in WTO dispute settlements and has a special focus on Brexit-related trade policy matters. Charles Julien advises clients on a various international trade and customs matters with a particular focus on the steel, petrochemicals, and paper industries. Marcus Sohlberg plays a significant role in supporting the team in handling WTO dispute settlement.
Practice head(s):
Jasper Wauters
Other key lawyers:
Charles Julien; Marcus Sohlberg
Testimonials
‘The team are well-connected in the international trade environment, with good understanding of the law and practices of the WTO as well as other relevant stakeholders. Their depth of experience provides clients with comprehensive legal services.’
‘Jasper Wauters knows WTO law and disputes practice. Charles Julien is equally comfortable in WTO cases and in domestic trade remedies actions. Marcus Sohlberg is an up-and-coming practitioner in this field.’
‘Jasper Wauters and Marcus Sohlberg are both excellent. Jasper is the person with exceptional professionality with abundant experiences. Marcus also has excellent knowlege and skills that are needed in this field.’
‘White & Case has a vast experience in international trade, trade remedies and dispute settlement. Their WTO practice is impeccable, among the best in the world, having a team of experienced lawyers in the field, some of whom have worked for several years at WTO, and that are fluent in many languages, which facilitates the communication with the client team.’
‘Jasper Wauters was in the best disposition to clarify any concern or doubt that we might had. We had the best experience working with Jasper. He definitely is a very professional and experienced lawyer.’
‘The team in Geneva is quite strong in trade remedy cases. Also, they can manage various cases that need transnational cooperation among multiple W&C offices globally.’
‘Jasper Wauters, is very diligent and helpful in understanding the client’s true needs and delivering what is needed.’
‘They always provided timly and acurate reviews and comments. I have received similar services from serveral other law-firms, but I do not hesitate to say that the White & Case in Geneva team is the best.’
Key clients
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (TARGETS)
Eurofer
Equate
MEGlobal
QatarEnergy
Prometeon
Ezz Steel Group
United Carton Industries Company
Work highlights
- Represented QatarEnergy (formerly known as Qatar Petroleum) in three anti-dumping investigations in India on various chemical products leading to no duties being imposed in any of these investigations while imports from other countries were hit with anti-dumping duties and one safeguard investigation in the Philippines.
- Represents SABIC and eight producing and distributing affiliates in the EU anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of mono ethylene glycol (MEG) originating in Saudi Arabia and the US.
- Represented the Government of Korea in its WTO dispute with the United States over the safeguard measure imposed by the United States on Large Residential Washers.
Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie’s team advises both domestic and international clients on regulatory and trade compliance matters in the fields of customs law, sanctions, export restrictions, and trade remedies. Pablo Bentes, who heads the team, specialises in representing sovereign clients before the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. Serge Pannatier regularly advises clients on a wide range of trade-related matters including trade remedies and customs matters. Claude Chase and Hayley Ryerson handle the full spectrum of matters regulated under WTO treaties.
Practice head(s):
Pablo Bentes
Other key lawyers:
Serge Pannatier; Claude Chase; Hayley Ryerson
Testimonials
‘Very personalized service.’
‘The Baker McKenzie firm stands out for its global presence with offices around the world, as well as the diversity of its team, which facilitates communication and representation of its clients. In addition to providing advice in various areas, we chose the Baker McKenzie firm for its extensive experience in the field of dispute resolution.’
‘The Baker McKenzie team has been very cooperative, enthusiastic, organized, and proactive. Pablo Bentes is very attentive to our case and its details. He provides us with accurate legal advice, follows up diligently, and offers the necessary recommendations for potential scenarios that may arise during hearings. All of the above gives us confidence and assurance as clients.’
Key clients
Barry Callebaut
Bobst
Bruker BioSpin
dorma kaba
GARMCO
Government for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning
Hilti
Kingdom of Bahrain
Novartis
Ruag
Schindler
Vitol
Work highlights
- Assisting both the Kingdom of Bahrain and a Bahraini aluminium exporter in parallel antidumping/countervailing duties investigations in the United States on imports of aluminium sheet.
- Advising in relation to two communications that a Middle East government received from the WTO, providing the client with a written assessment of the recent communications made by the United States and by China, India, South Africa and Venezuela regarding the relevance of the self-declared development status in the WTO.
King & Spalding LLP
King & Spalding LLP’s team regularly advises its high-profile clients on all aspects of WTO work, with a particular focus on trade agreements and litigation. The team’s scope of practice also covers trade remedies and advising on new trade and investment treaty regimes that have been negotiated in the EU and internationally. Daniel Crosby, who regularly supports sovereign and commercial clients in applying international trade and investment rules, heads the team. Hamid Mamdouh who has extensive knowledge in trade negotiations, both as a negotiator as well as a senior international official, is also a key team member.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Crosby
Other key lawyers:
Hamid Mamdouh
Key clients
United Parcel Service (UPS)
SABIC/Saudi Iron & Steel Company (HADEED)
International Chamber of Commerce
Work highlights
- Represent UPS in connection with the negotiation and application of new interpretations of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and WTO rules and commitments on e-commerce, including the cross-border movement of goods, services, and digital data.
- Advise the GEA, which represents the interests of leading international express delivery carriers (DHL, FedEx, and UPS), on international trade issues affecting their business, including country-specific limitations on their ability to operate.
- Assisted HADEED, a subsidiary of SABIC, in a litigation concerning a safeguard investigation conducted by Egypt into imports of steel products from around the world.
Van Bael & Bellis
Van Bael & Bellis’s particular focus on representing governments in WTO dispute settlement proceedings allows it to cover all stages of the proceedings from consultation to implementation. It has an international team with multilingual capabilities and expertise in cross-border matters. The team is headed by Philippe De Baere, who has been involved in various major anti-dumping, anti-circumvention, and anti-subsidy proceedings, and Clotilde du Parc, who has assisted clients in a large number of WTO disputes involving a broad range of substantive areas.
Practice head(s):
Philippe De Baere; Clotilde du Parc
Other key lawyers:
Isabelle Van Damme; Tetyana Payosova; Joanna Redelbach
Testimonials
‘Van Bael & Bellis has a broad coverage of EU trade law issues in general. They are always very prompt and good to make a succinct and helpful legal analysis.’
‘Phillip De Baere knows both the legal aspects and the people very much. He is great in managing the team, works and budgets.’
Key clients
Government of Indonesia
Work highlights
- Advises the Government of Indonesia in the WTO dispute settlement proceeding concerning certain measures imposed by the EU and its member states in the framework of its renewable energy directives limiting the use of palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels.
- Acted as legal counsel for the Government of Switzerland in this WTO dispute settlement proceeding brought by Switzerland against the measures imposed by the United States on steel and aluminium products pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.