Canada: Trade & Customs
Negotiations with the EU toward a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement have taken priority in the government’s international trade agenda, with a conclusion to be reached by 2012. The agreement will remove barriers to trade between Canada and the EU, which will encourage more foreign companies into the country and in turn increase the amount of legal work in this sector. Furthermore, our research indicates that anti-dumping cases are prevalent and customs work is increasing as enforcement agencies become more aggressive, a phenomenon that is often the trend in more difficult economic times. In total, 28 lawyers are listed for their outstanding counsel.
Norton Rose OR LLP fields three lawyers. Chair of the international trade team Gregory Somers is renowned as a “leader” and he focuses on the World Trade Organization (WTO) rights, NAFTA and other free trade agreements, anti-dumping, imports and exports, customs and government contracting. Benjamin Bedard specialises in international trade and customs and regularly appears before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, NAFTA bi-national panels, the federal court and the federal court of appeal. Paul Conlin is a “leading light” and advises clients on import and export controls, foreign investment, and NAFTA and WTO obligations and disputes.
Bennett Jones LLP’s “impressive” trade and customs practitioners also earn three inclusions. Darrel Pearson is held in “high esteem” by his peers and is co-chair of the firm’s international trade and investment practice with Milos Barutciski. Pearson has represented clients in trade remedy and customs cases before all relevant Canadian tribunals and courts, including the only two cases in the past 50 years involving customs and international trade remedy laws to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. Barutciski focuses on anti-dumping, countervailing duty and government procurement cases before the Canadian international trade tribunal and federal courts. Jesse Goldman is an experienced litigator in the trade field. He has represented clients in over 80 trade remedy matters and his more recent focus has been trade remedy litigation involving China.
At McMillan LLP three lawyers are listed for their “outstanding” counsel. Michael Flavell QC, chair of the international trade law group in Ottawa, is “highly regarded” for his counsel in cases before the Canadian international trade tribunal, the federal court and the supreme court of Canada. Geoffrey Kubrick is known for his anti-dumping and countervailing investigations and is described as a “prominent lawyer” in the field who is “very capable”. Cyndee Todgham Cherniak specialises in WTO and regional trade agreements analysis and interpretations as well as dispute settlements.
Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP fields two lawyers: Ronald Cheng and Riyaz Dattu. Cheng is considered a “dean of the bar” and is one of the most highly nominated individuals in our research. Dattu specialises in advising multinational and domestic businesses on international trade policy and strategies, investment matters and market-access concerns. He is “held in high esteem” for his trade remedy proceedings before NAFTA panels and the federal court.
Chair of the international trade and investment group at Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP Clifford Sosnow has a “very strong practice” and notably represented Canada in its first dispute before the WTO appellate body. Also at the firm, Greg Kanargelidis is an experienced lawyer in trade remedy matters and is “highly respected for his customs law work”.
Gregory Tereposky is a “very fine practitioner” at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and has been involved in numerous NAFTA negotiations. Working alongside him, Gerry Stobo has appeared before all levels of courts and tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada and has acted as lead counsel on complex dumping, subsidiary and safeguard cases for multinational corporations.
Paul Burns, coordinator of the international commercial practice group at Baker & McKenzie’s Toronto office, advises on a broad range of international trade and customs matters, including valuation, tariff classification, rules of origin and anti-dumping. At the same firm, Craig Logie is an “effective litigator and arbitrator” in the field of international trade law and customs law.
Two “highly recommended” names feature from McCarthy Tétrault LLP. John Boscariol is head of the firm’s international trade and investment law group. His practice includes advising on the application of international trade and investment protection agreements, export and import controls, trade embargoes, blocking measures and economic sanctions. Simon Potter is “well known” among peers for his “accomplished litigation skills”. He regularly appears before the Canadian international trade tribunal in addition to the competition bureau.
Based in the Montreal office of Stikeman Elliott LLP, Glenn Cranker is co-chair of the international trade group and is considered a “leading lawyer” in commodity taxation and trade matters.
Dalton Albrecht at Miller Thomson LLP is “well-versed” in all aspects of international trade and customs law and he regularly appears before the Canadian international trade tribunal.
Richard Dearden of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP is a “vastly experienced litigator” with a focus on international trade law covering anti-dumping, countervailing inquiries and customs cases.
At Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Lawrence Herman represents corporations, governments and international agencies in trade cases and is chair of the trade policy committee of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
At the boutique firm Gottlieb & Associates, Richard Gottlieb is experienced in all aspects of international trade law, his emphasis is on anti-dumping and subsidy actions, customs valuation and transfer pricing.
Christopher Thomas QC at his own firm JC Thomas Law Corporation is a multi-talented lawyer with skills in litigation and arbitration. He has been active in the field of international economic law for over 25 years and represents both private sector clients and the state.
Michael Kaylor at Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon LLP has over 35 years experience in international trade law and his expertise is wide-ranging. His practice includes tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin and anti-dumping and countervailing investigations.
Christopher Kent, founding partner of Cassidy Levy Kent has been involved in a large number of high profile international trade disputes. He provides a range of advice covering trade regulation, policy, market-access issues and import and export controls.
At the University of Ottawa, Debra Steger is “astute and knowledgeable”, a “fine choice for inclusion”.