King & Spalding LLP provides a top-tier service on all WTO matters, with a particular focus on e-commerce and digital trade. The team’s expertise also includes trade remedies, including anti-dumping, countervailing duties, and safeguard proceedings. The team regularly advises commercial and sovereign clients in formal reform negotiations at the WTO, while also successfully representing governments in active WTO litigation cases. Head of practice Daniel Crosby routinely advises clients on international treaty regimes, future trade agreements, and national trade remedy proceedings and WTO disputes.WTO expert Hamid Mamdouh is also a key contact.
WTO in Switzerland
King & Spalding LLP
Practice head(s):
Daniel Crosby
Other key lawyers:
Hamid Mamdouh
Key clients
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Global Express Association
Work highlights
- Representing UPS in connection with the negotiation and application of (1) new interpretations of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and (2) WTO rules and commitments on e-commerce, including the cross-border movement of goods, services, and digital data.
- Advising the Global Express Association, 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.
White & Case S.A.
The ‘extraordinary’ team at White & Case S.A. stands out for its work on WTO disputes and trade remedies, particularly concerning manufacturers, trade unions, and governments in strategic industries including steel, petrochemicals and manufacturing. The firm’s leading WTO practice has extensive experience defending or prosecuting both sovereign and commercial clients. The practice is headed by the ‘great’ Jasper Wauters, a specialist in international market access issues and WTO litigation. Other key team members include experienced counsel Charles Julien and the up-and-coming Marcus Sohlberg.
Practice head(s):
Jasper Wauters
Other key lawyers:
Charles Julien; Marcus Sohlberg
Testimonials
‘Their skills run the gamut of trade issues and they have a straight-forward and pragmatic approach to helping companies achieve commercial goals. Jasper Wauters is responsive and helpful, and he delivers solid work at short deadlines. Charles Julien is diligent and pays attention to details, and he is not afraid of diving into complex situations and datasets to find the best strategy. Marcus Sohlberg is quickly establishing his skills and expertise in the trade community.’
‘White & Case has an extensive experience in international trade and dispute resolution before the WTO. Their level of knowledge and expertise in the field is extraordinary. They not only master the theory of WTO Law, but they also handle the practice with astonishing skill.’
‘White & Case’s team members are very capable and have a great deal of experience in handling WTO matters. Most of them are fluid in two or more languages, which facilitates communication and helps to better understand their client’s needs. They are genuine experts in their respective fields, which helps to quickly build trust and confidence in their relationship with the client.’
‘The team is highly trained and up to date with the issues and jurisprudence in the WTO. We highlight the team led by Jasper Wauters and made up of Marcus Sohlberg and Guillermo Giralda Fustes. They are highly qualified people, who master the aspects of the WTO and in particular the dispute settlement mechanism.’
‘Jasper Wauters stands out in meeting the client’s needs and demand delivering what was precisely requested in time.’
‘White & Case LLP is led by one of the leading practitioners in the field, Mr. Jasper Wauters. He is very sharp, knowledgeable, and experienced. I think the fact that the team is led by Mr. Wauters is the single biggest advantage that White & Case’s WTO practice has. In addition, White & Case’s depth of talent pool helps the firm equip its WTO team with enough resources and manpower. So, in sum, it’s like one great lawyer spearheading the team with a wealth of resources. It can’t get much better than this.’
‘Mr. Jasper Wauters already garners much recognition internationally, but I think he should get more. He is very smart and extremely analytical. He also possesses a very balanced view over diverse issues of the law, industry, and policies. I also recommend Mr. Marcus Sohlberg. A very knowledgeable and professional lawyer who is destined to become famous, if not already famous.’
‘Excellent knowledge, technically sound, efficient and a pleasure to work with. Mr. Charles Julien: Always accessible, absolute honesty and value oriented. Most knowledgeable person and most helpful at any time and anywhere.’
Key clients
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Eurofer
Ezz Steel Group
SABIC
Qatar Petroleum
Equate
MEGlobal
Prometeon
Work highlights
- Successfully representing Qatar Energy (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.
- Representing SABIC, one of the world largest chemical companies, and eight producing and distributing affiliates in the EU anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of mono ethylene glycol (MEG) originating in Saudi Arabia and the US.
- Successfully representing 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 (DS 546).
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP regularly advises private and governmental clients on all aspects of WTO work, with a particular focus on litigation and dispute resolution. Specialising in WTO litigation, export control, and economic sanctions, the team benefits from lawyers' previous experience with international trade bodies and national bodies involved in this space. ‘WTO veteran’ Alan Yanovich and Stephen Kho co-head the practice.
Practice head(s):
Alan Yanovich; Stephen Kho
Testimonials
‘Our top pick was always Alan Yanovich, a WTO veteran who has handled almost all kinds of WTO litigations. His track record alone speaks volumes. You will never be disappointed. He also has a very close connection with the insiders within Geneva, which is also a big plus. This is not to mention that he is a great lawyer and litigation strategist.’
‘I think one of the major advantages Akin Gump holds over its competitors is its ability to summon synergistic collaboration among offices located in different areas and regions. For example, Akin Gump’s Geneva Office houses some of the most experienced WTO experts in the world, while its Washington DC Office houses very experienced and competent trade remedy experts. You would typically think there must be some sort of barrier between different offices of the same international law firm, and you are usually right. But that does not apply to Akin Gump. Akin Gump’s Geneva Office and DC Office truly work as one team. That is a big advantage.‘
Key clients
Government of Korea, Ministry of Trade Economy and Industry (MOTIE)
Ministry of Trade of Costa Rica
Ministry of Commerce of China
Government of Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Pfizer
Ministry of Economy of the UAE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates
Motion Picture Association
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund
Labcorp
Solar Energy Industries Association
Business Roundtable
Consumer Technology Corporation
Eastman Chemical Company
Abbott
Work highlights
- Advising MOTIE on a broad range of WTO and other international trade issues in relation to potential WTO litigation, bilateral negotiations and multilateral discussions.
- Advising Costa Rica regarding antidumping duties imposed on exports of steel bars to the Dominican Republic.
- Closely cooperating with METI on a number of WTO and international trade issues.
Van Bael & Bellis
The ‘highly professional’ WTO practice at Van Bael & Bellis excels in the representation of governmental clients across all stages of WTO dispute settlement proceedings. The team also advises governments and business associations on WTO trade agreements and in international trade negotiations. The ‘excellent’ international law specialist Clotilde du Parc co-heads the practice along with Brussels-based Philippe De Baere.
Practice head(s):
Philippe De Baere; Clotilde du Parc
Testimonials
‘The team is highly professional. It has a very deep knowledge of WTO law and extensive experience in WTO litigation. It is very responsive to our needs and always keen to offer the best service.’
‘Clotilde du Parc has extensive experience in WTO dispute settlement. Her advice is technically excellent, and she has an excellent understanding of policy implications. She establishes a genuine dialogue with her clients.’
Key clients
Government of Indonesia
Work highlights
- Advising 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. This is the first time the WTO compatibility of the EU’s climate policy measures is challenged in a WTO dispute.
Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie offers a one-stop-shop for clients seeking advice on WTO and international trade matters. The firm frequently advises both governmental authorities and private entities on all WTO matters, and is particularly experienced in dispute resolution and litigation in front of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. The practice is headed by Pablo Bentes, who specialises in representing sovereign clients in dispute settlements before the WTO.
Practice head(s):
Pablo Bentes
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
- Advising in relation to two communications that a Middle East government received from the WTO
- Advising the Kingdom of Bahrain and the largest Bahraini aluminum exporter in parallel antidumping/countervailing duties investigations in the United States on imports of aluminum sheet.