We are one of the few firms in South East Europe with a blend of extensive expertise and outstanding network in International Trade & Customs. Our International Trade & Customs team advises major domestic and international clients, including manufacturers, distributors, exporters, importers and end-users, on a wide spectrum of key issues, as diverse as national and international trade measures and trade remedy actions, trade policy and legislation, customs dispute resolution and settlements, countervailing duties, free trade negotiations, export/import controls, sanctions/embargoes and anti-dumping/anti-subsidy practices.
Thanks to their multi-jurisdictional experience, our lawyers provide clients with legal counseling on customs and trade procedures from an international perspective, as well as full representation before the competent customs authorities and offices during duty suspension, inspections and customs intervention applications procedures.
Our International Trade & Customs team works closely with our IP lawyers on IP border enforcement proceedings linked to community and national customs applications, anti-counterfeiting policies, seizure/destruction of goods and disputes between importers and IP owners, providing uniform and flexible solutions.
Drakopoulos is one of the key founders of Green Lane (www.greenlane.eu), a unique cooperation of independent European law firms specialized in customs and international trade law. Green Lane provides companies with a “one stop shop” for customs and international trade law services for the whole of the European continent.
01.Highlights
- We advised RECKITT BENCKISER BV in the Netherlands with respect to the tax and VAT aspects arising out of a private agreement between the client and its co-packer in Greece FAMAR, regulating the export of goods outside the EU on behalf of RECKITT BENCKISER BV (including filing the customs export declaration) on a zero-rate VAT basis. The matter required extensive communication with the competent tax and customs authorities, elaborate legal interpretation of the applicable VAT regulations, including clarifications of “direct export” and “right of disposal of the goods” definitions, as well as careful drafting of the agreement in order to ensure compliance with the Greek tax and customs authorities.
- We advised UPSTREAM, a multinational telecommunications and technology company, with respect to exporting dual-usage telecommunication technology products in Iran. The case required elaborate handling since embargo/sanctions issues had to be addressed.
- We have been recently appointed by OSBORNE CLARKE as customs representatives ofCLIVE CHRISTIAN, TONI & GUY and POPSOCKETSin the relevant customs applications.
- We advised our clients engaging into export activities based out of Greece on the legal requirements and the supporting documentation in order to seek VAT exemption when exporting goods from another EU Member State by complying with the customs export formalities of that State.
- We advise our clients that act as exporters/distributors/co-packers on all aspects related to exports, export declarations and record keeping, in order to ensure compliance with the recently amended legal framework requiring mandatory electronic submission of any supporting documentation related to exports.
- We advise GTECH, CASINO TECHNOLOGY and ABBIATI CASINO EQUIPMENT on licensing related matters for casino games and over 2,000 VLTs. Casino and gaming licensing procedures require ongoing legal research and coordination with the competent customs and gaming authorities in order to ensure compliance with the labile national regulatory environment in this respect.
- We advised RECKITT BENCKISER (RB) on the renegotiation of the commercial terms of their distribution agreement in Skopje and on the best INCOTERMS option in order to ensure that the client is exempt from the respective customs duty payment.
- We advised MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AIR-CONDITIONING in the UK on an international trade dispute with their distributor in Greece as regards payment of royalties. The mater required extensive customs knowledge in order to ensure full compliance with the amended Union Customs Code and the changes implemented therein with respect to royalties payments.
02. People
