International Trade Practice 2012 Year In Review

A Look Back at Kelley Drye Trade Group Achievements in 2012
By any measure, the year 2012 proved to be highly successful for the International Trade Practice Group at Kelley Drye.  The Year in Review (attached below) summarizes some of those successes.  These achievements reflect the efforts of both Kelley Drye attorneys as well as economists with Georgetown Economic Services.

In 2012, we provided assistance to a variety of U.S. manufacturers and agricultural producers in trade remedy cases (antidumping and countervailing duty).  We successfully pursued a new antidumping case on behalf of U.S. transformer manufacturers against unfairly-traded imports of large power transformers from Korea before the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission.  We assisted companies in preventing revocation of existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders in numerous sunset reviews involving agricultural products and manufactured goods.  Appeals and legislative efforts we pursued to address new shipper bonding and surety issues led to distributions of roughly $60 million to our clients.   Other successes occurred in a number of cases involving U.S. judicial review and challenges pending before the World Trade Organization.

On the export control and compliance front, Kelley Drye led an audit of over 100 facilities for a major manufacturer of industrial pumps and valves. We provided leading manufacturers with trade compliance advice on matters including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS), and Export Administration Regulation (EAR).  We provided training and compliance tools for companies seeking to avoid liability under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  We represented U.S. importers in a variety of Customs-related worker, including relief from Customs seizures.

These successes are reflected in the awards bestowed on our International Trade Practice Group in 2012.  Our group was awarded a Tier 1 national ranking by U.S. News/Best Law Firms and was ranked nationally by Chambers USA in the International Trade category, in addition to individual lawyer recognition by numerous award publications singling out most of the attorneys in our practice group.  We were pleased to announce the promotion of one of our outstanding section members, John Herrmann, to Partner in the firm.  We also congratulate economist Greg Rohling on obtaining his Customs Brokers license in 2012.

We are proud of our accomplishments and committed to providing superior service to our clients.  The combination of our economic and legal backgrounds, our many years of experience in the trade, customs and export control areas and our diverse client base gives us a unique perspective and ability to assist companies experiencing all types of trade problems.  We look forward to continuing to serve all of our client needs with the same commitment to excellence in the coming year.

Kathy Cannon
Practice Group Leader
International Trade Group
Kelley Drye & Warren