Andrew is a Partner in our Litigation team, with significant expertise across international trade law and customs.

Andrew is a trusted and highly-regarded industry adviser to businesses, industry associations, other peak bodies and Government, and regularly consults on legal and trade developments that affect Australian and international businesses. He is also a prolific media commentator.

He assists importers, exporters, licensed customs brokers, freight forwarders, shippers, marine insurers and trade financiers, and other industry parties with procedural and legal advice, including reviews and litigious matters. This advice is provided in Australia and overseas, where Andrew works with a network of colleagues at law firms across the world.

Andrew specialises in all areas of trade including international trade conventions, dispute resolution and arbitration, trade financing options, commodity and freight contracts. He represents his clients’ best interests during inquiries or prosecutions by government agencies, in matters involving dumping and alleged underpayments of customs duty, alleged breaches of licence conditions by service providers (such as licensed customs brokers) and any associated litigation.

Andrew is a member of the board of directors of the Export Council of Australia (ECA) and the Food and Beverage Importers of Australia (FBIA), and is regularly engaged in these capacities to advise the government agencies and peak industry bodies operating across Australian border control.

Customs and Trade Experience examples

• Representing a significant Australian manufacturer in a number of AAT matters to oppose applications for Tariff Concession Orders (TCOs) by importers of competing products.
• Representing significant Australian importers of bed linen in an AAT action to reinstate TCOs leading to a refund of customs duty and GST in excess of $70m.
• Representing parties in AAT matters relating to valuation, tariff classification and TCOs.
• Acting for Chinese manufacturers and exporters of chemicals to oppose allegations of dumping of its product in Australia.
• Acting for a major Australian importer of Asian foodstuffs to oppose the application of anti-dumping measures including successful review of Customs action to the Trade Measures Review Officer (TMRO).
• Representing major Australian importers of aluminium road wheels to oppose allegations of dumping and subsidy of the products in Australia. This included successful review of the actions of Customs before the TMRO and subsequent successful review of the actions of Customs and the Minister for Home Affairs before the Federal Court.
• Representing Australian importers and Korean exporters of hot rolled coil steel to oppose allegations of dumping of those products in Australia.
• Representing Australian importers of galvanised steel to oppose allegations of dumping and subsidy of the products in Australia.
• Representing Chinese and Korean exporters of Power Transformers to oppose allegations of dumping of power transformers.
• Acting for a number of Australian companies to review tariff classifications adopted by Customs and incorrect use of concessional items by Customs leading to a reduction of duty payable and refund of past duty paid.
• Acting for industry associations, importers and service providers to secure compensation for losses following the introduction of new Customs IT systems and in response to incorrect actions by Customs and other Government agencies.
• Representing industry in relation to the introduction of new legislation including submissions to Customs on new legislation and procedural changes, appearances before Senate Inquiries into implementing legislation and before the Productivity Commission review of Free Trade
• Agreements and the Australian anti-dumping and subsidy regime and the Brumby review of that regime. This has also included submissions to the Senate Inquiries on Trade Modernisation Legislation, legislation imposing strict and absolute liability (including for Customs offences) new anti-dumping legislation, proposed Free Trade Agreements, proposed WTO Agreements and other Customs reform.
• Representing parties in investigations by other Government agencies including defending prosecutions by those agencies.
• Representing major Australian food manufacturers and exporters and other companies in trade in Australian and overseas including defending investigations by overseas Governments and their agencies.
• Advising on other regulatory and compliance issues including recent focus on licensing of service providers and cargo reporting issues and the customs aspects of Transfer Pricing arrangement.
• Extensive involvement in education to industry groups by industry associations including delivery of a number of presentations to the CBFCA CPD program.