The firm's customs practice is recognized as one of the premier practices of its kind in the country. Broad and deep in terms of personnel and skill sets, it includes former government officials from the U.S. Customs Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Treasury Department, as well as those with customs-related responsibilities in other trade agencies, such as the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Our practitioners are adept at the "nuts and bolts" of customs issues while at the same time being well-versed in the nuances of trade policy. Our role as Washington counsel to several prominent trade associations, including the U.S. Business Alliance for Customs Modernization (BACM), the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel (USA-ITA), reflects our standing as a "player" in the policy and politics of international trade. Our active involvement and leadership positions in other important trade associations, such as the Joint Industry Group (JIG) and the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI), ensures that we are on the front lines of customs reform and modernization.

The firm's clients include market leaders in a number of industry sectors, including construction equipment, electronics, automotive, metals, apparel, pharmaceuticals and footwear. We also have advised numerous foreign sovereigns on customs issues, such as Hong Kong, China, Colombia, Israel, Vietnam and Singapore.

Our customs experience extends to administrative proceedings before U.S. Customs and all other federal agencies regulating trade, to the Congress and to the court system. In litigation we regularly appear before the U.S. Court of International Trade and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and have participated in the few customs cases to reach the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years, including those involving the deference and harbor maintenance tax issues.

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