Laurent Ruessmann To Head Crowell & Moring's European Trade Practice

BRUSSELS, March 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the continued expansion of its International Trade Group. Laurent Ruessmann has joined the firm as a partner and will head the firm's European Trade practice, where he will continue to advise clients on a broad range of trade, customs, and trade-related regulatory matters under European legislation and international agreements. He joins the firm from Sidley Austin LLP, where he was a founding partner of their Brussels office in 2003.

"Laurent is a star for clients seeking international trade and regulatory counsel, and we're proud to have him on our team. He brings decades of experience successfully representing European and international clients across a wide range of industry sectors," said Jeffrey L. Snyder, chair of Crowell & Moring's International Trade Group.

Ruessmann helps companies find solutions to trade and market access challenges, making use of anti-dumping, anti-subsidies, and safeguard procedures, as well as litigation, legislative modifications, and negotiated arrangements. In this regard, his work in 2010 included the high-profile and precedent-setting EU trade cases on behalf of EU producers of coated fine paper and wireless modems.

More generally, Ruessmann's assistance to clients includes work on trade and customs matters before EU authorities, as well as at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), representation in anti-fraud investigations, and advice on EU export controls and economic sanctions, as well as on issues related to preferential trade agreements, customs tariff treatment, duty recovery, and dispute settlement. Ruessmann's trade-related regulatory work features advice on matters relating to EU product safety, environmental law and life sciences regulatory matters, including chemical and other industry regulation under the REACH and CLP legislation. Overall, his experience spans a wide spectrum of industries, including IT, agriculture, chemical, pharmaceutical, children's and other consumer products, steel, automotive, aviation, natural resources, textiles, and financial services.

"Crowell & Moring has an outstanding reputation in international trade and customs law and a growing presence in Europe. I am very pleased to take up the challenge of contributing to both, as well as to Crowell's strong culture of collaboration across its eight offices. Together, and in close cooperation with the firm's highly esteemed trade consultancy, C&M International, we will provide clients every possible solution to their complex trade and regulatory challenges, whether in the EU or elsewhere," said Ruessmann.

Ruessmann received his B.A. and his J.D. from the University of Michigan, and also holds a degree in law from the Universite Catholique de Louvain (Belgium). A member of the Brussels bar and the bar of the State of Michigan, Ruessmann is widely recognized as a leading international trade lawyer and features prominently in the trade and WTO rankings of the leading bar publications, such as Chambers, The Legal 500, and Who's Who Legal.

Emmanuel Gybels, head of Crowell & Moring's Brussels office, said, "Laurent's extensive international experience will add to the breadth of services Crowell & Moring's Brussels office provides clients, ranging from antitrust to intellectual property and litigation. Laurent's appointment signifies our continued investment in growth in Europe and first class services to our clients as they expand globally."

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with nearly 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels. Visit Crowell & Moring online at http://www.crowell.com.

    
    CONTACT: Jessica O'Neil
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             joneil@crowell.com

             Lorraine Baldwin
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             lbaldwin@hillandknowlton.com