Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Novartis is a multinational Swiss pharmaceutical company producing innovative medicines, generic drugs, and eye-care products. Novartis has approximately 126,000 employees globally and annual revenue of over $50 billion. Head of Novartis' Trade Sanctions Practice Team, situated within Group Legal. Key accountabilities: 1) Leading the Trade Sanctions Practice Team, supporting cross-divisional assessment of Novartis’ sanctions compliance programs and implementing compliance activities with support from the lawyers in the Team. 2) Providing legal advice and supporting day-to-day activities relating to sanctions/export control regimes around the world, with particular focus on U.S., EU, and Swiss sanctions. Monitoring legal developments with regard to sanctions, ensuring that legal trends are reflected in the business strategy. 3) Collaborating and aligning with relevant functions, such as Global Customs & Trade Compliance, to optimize processes and ensure trade compliance matters are properly addressed. Advising on continuous improvements to Novartis' trade compliance framework. 4) Drafting, reviewing, and implementing, in coordination with internal stakeholders, robust guidelines and procedures on sanctions/export controls. Developing and delivering sanctions training to the Legal Function and business functions.
Syngenta is a multinational Swiss company producing agrichemicals and seeds. It has approximately 28,000 employees in 90 countries and annual revenues of over $12 billion. Head of Syngenta's Trade Compliance Team, situated within Legal & Taxes. The mission of Syngenta Trade Compliance is to enable mitigation of trade risks and maximize Syngenta's revenue through trade. The Team sets Syngenta's global Trade Compliance Framework as the company's "second line of defence", providing legal interpretation and advice regarding the trade topics within the Framework, including: 1) Embargo/sanctions management; 2) Denied party screening; 3) Anti-dumping and Anti-subsidy investigations; 4) Customs valuation; 5) Harmonized System classification; 6) Controlled chemical substances; 7) Free trade agreements and special import regimes; and 8) Seeds trade compliance. The Trade Compliance Team establishes policies and procedures to ensure compliant international movements of Syngenta's crop protection and seed products. The Team also provides training and performs country deep dives in order to improve employees' awareness and skills. The Trade Compliance Team monitors and advises on risks and opportunities for Syngenta, including critical legal/political developments and strategic trade topics for Syngenta globally (e.g. Brexit, and new free trade agreements providing import duty optimization opportunities).
Enlargement of responsibilities in previous role to cover both ethical compliance and trade matters. Lawyer within Syngenta's Group Compliance Department. Focused on prevention together with other Compliance and Legal colleagues: conducted internal trainings, empowered leaders through the company's Leader-Led Compliance Sessions, and assessed effectiveness through compliance deep dives and surveys. Responded to alleged violations of laws, regulations, Syngenta's Code of Conduct, policies, and procedures. Conducted investigations into alleged acts of compliance violations. Managed legal aspects of trade compliance for Syngenta within Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Ensured compliance with corporate standards, WTO and WCO regulations, local and international legislation in all import and export processes to eliminate or minimize legal risks. Advised Syngenta on outbound (export controls, embargoes/trade sanctions, anti-boycott and anti-corruption) and inbound (customs classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, market access barriers) trade compliance matters. Advised Logistics, Planning, R&D, and Supply Chain on trade optimization matters, such as the ability to use preferential trade agreements, AEO schemes, and new routes for the efficient, economic, and compliant movement of chemical products internationally. Drafted and managed trade-related policies and Codes of Conduct and implemented trade-related training. Led trade-related risk management and audit programs. Responded to risk management and audit issues and coordinated corrective measures. Negotiated with governments regarding new and alternative routes for compliant movement of chemical products, as well as addressing blocked routes. Represented Syngenta externally on trade compliance matters in industry associations such as CEFIC, and was invited as a regular speaker at C5 European export controls conferences.
Lawyer within Syngenta's Group Compliance and Trade Affairs Team. Managed legal aspects of trade compliance for Syngenta within Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Ensured compliance with corporate standards, WTO and WCO regulations, local and international legislation in all import and export processes to eliminate or minimize legal risks. Advised Syngenta on outbound (export controls, embargoes/trade sanctions, anti-boycott and anti-corruption) and inbound (customs classification, customs valuation, rules of origin, market access barriers) trade compliance matters. Advised Logistics, Planning, R&D, and Supply Chain on trade optimization matters, such as the ability to use preferential trade agreements, AEO schemes, and new routes for the efficient, economic, and compliant movement of chemical products internationally. Drafted and managed trade-related policies and Codes of Conduct and implemented trade-related training. Led trade-related risk management and audit programs. Responded to risk management and audit issues and coordinated corrective measures. Negotiated with governments regarding new and alternative routes for compliant movement of chemical products, as well as addressing blocked routes. Represented Syngenta externally on trade compliance matters in industry associations such as CEFIC, and was invited as a regular speaker at C5 European export controls conferences.
British international law firm with broad expertise in international commerce. Sectors of specific legal proficiency include international trade, EU competition law, EU regulatory law, aviation, commodities, energy, mining, and shipping. The firm has a global reach, with more than 475 lawyers in 13 offices situated in 10 countries. Holman Fenwick also has alliance offices in Abu Dhabi and Rouen, France. Provided legal advice regarding EU and non-EU trade regulations affecting the movement of goods (e.g. compliance with EU and US sanctions law, EU export authorization regulations). Gained additional experience in EU competition law and EU regulatory law. Closely monitored international trade negotiations, regulatory developments, rules of origin and customs valuation matters concerning various EU industrial sectors. Involved in EU trade remedy investigations such as the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into solar panels from China. Connected with diverse stakeholders within large corporate clients active in high-value economic sectors (e.g. solar panels from China, bicycles from China, biodiesel from Indonesia, fatty alcohol from Indonesia, and polyester staple fibres from China). Engaged in EU litigation pertaining to EU trade, regulatory, and customs matters. Was also active in WTO litigation: represented a client in the WTO compliance panel proceedings in EC – Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft.
Boutique law firm specialized in international trade law and EU competition law. Drafted key sections of formal client memos concerning disputes with international trade law, EU regulatory law, and competition law dimensions. Researched and wrote 45+ articles for Trade Perspectives, an international trade and EU regulatory law publication reaching an audience of more than 3,000 leading EU policymakers, business people, and diplomats. Topics included influential WTO Panel/Appellate Body decisions, EU renewable energy policy, the EU’s Trade Barriers Regulation, EU anti-dumping reforms, EU export controls, and the EU’s GSP and bilateral investment regimes. Coordinated new business development efforts in relation to the EU-Canada free trade negotiations with the Canadian Trade Mission to the EU and key EU business stakeholders.
Boutique litigation firm specializing in labour, employment and human rights law. Researched and drafted complex pleadings for employment and human rights cases. Successfully pursued new client development: introduced to the firm a client with complex human rights issues. The case was settled to the client’s great satisfaction.