Laurent Ruessmann is a partner in the firm’s Brussels office. He assists clients in a broad range of international trade and customs matters under EU and Member State legislation, as well as under the WTO agreements.

Laurent’s work involves advice and representation in connection with EU anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguards procedures and litigation, as well as various other EU, WCO and WTO trade and customs matters, including investment and market access issues, anti-fraud investigations, export controls and economic sanctions and issues related to preferential trade agreements, customs tariff treatment and duty recovery, and dispute settlement. He also has experience with product safety and life sciences regulatory matters, as well as with EU environmental law, including chemical regulation under REACH, data privacy and intellectual property rights.

Laurent has worked with clients in a variety of industries, including computers and accessories, other electronic equipment, other durable goods and equipment, consumer products, agriculture and food products, chemicals and pharmaceutical products, automobiles and auto parts, aviation, iron and steel products, metals, textiles and non-wovens, and banking and financial services.

Laurent is a qualified lawyer in the United States and in Belgium and obtained a B.A. at the University of Michigan (1980). He also received a law degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School (1987) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the Catholic University of Louvain (1992). He is a frequent speaker and contributor to conferences on a variety of international trade topics.

Laurent features prominently in the trade and WTO rankings of the leading bar publications such as Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Who's Who Legal.

 

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Admissions/Affiliations

Admitted to practice in Michigan (1989) and Belgium (1997)

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Publications

• "The CJEU Judgment in Nokia and Philips Clarifies the Customs Detention of Goods Suspected of Infringing Intellectual Property Rights," 183, Global Trade and Customs Journal, Volume 7, Issue 4 (April 2012). Authors: Laurent Ruessmann and Francesca Condello.
  
  
• "Touching a Nerve?," MLex Magazine (October/December 2011). Author: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  
• "Revising EU Trade Rules to Build a More United Europe," New Europe (March 20-26, 2011). Author: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  
• "The Lisbon Treaty and EU Trade Defence Instruments: A New Framework for Court Challenges and Decision-Making," International Trade Law Regulation (May 2010). Co-Authors: Laurent Ruessmann and Carolina Dackö.
  
  
• "Ode to the Digital Single Market: And the Google AdWords case play a part," Computer Law Review International (CRi) (December 2009). Laurent Ruessmann and Hanne Melin.
  
  
• "Market Economy Treatment (MET) in the Footwear case: Tackling unfair competition unfairly?," 15:4 International Trade Law and Regulation (July/August 2009). Co-Authors: Laurent Ruessmann, Arnoud Willems and Carolina Dackö.
  
  
• "Revisiting the First Sale for Export Rule: An attempt to remove fairness in the interests of raising revenues, without improving legal certainty," World Customs Journal (April 2009). Co-Authors: Laurent Ruessmann and Arnoud Willems.
  
  
• "The EU Approves Climate Change Legislation But Key Negotiations Still Ahead," The Environmental Counselor (April 2009). Co-Authors: Laurent Ruessmann, Arnoud Willems, Chris Bell and Roger Martella.
  
  
• "Assessing the EU Working Party’s Guidance on Harmonizing U.S. Discovery and EU Data Protection Requirements," BNA Privacy & Security Law Report (March 2009). Author: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  

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Alerts & Newsletters

• "This Month In International Trade - April 2012 ," International Trade Bulletin (May 4, 2012). Contacts: John B. Brew, Laurent Ruessmann, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Alan W. H. Gourley, Alexander H. Schaefer, Daniel Cannistra, Carrie F. Fletcher, Cari N. Stinebower, Michael Larmoyeux, James (J.J.) Saulino, Jini Koh, Lindsay Denault, David Wolff, Elena Klonitskaya.


• "New Presidential Order Aims to Help Bridge International Regulatory Discrepancies," International Trade Bulletin (May 3, 2012). Contacts: Christopher Wilson, John B. Brew, Laurent Ruessmann.


• "This Month In International Trade - March 2012 ," International Trade Bulletin (April 10, 2012). Contacts: John B. Brew, Laurent Ruessmann, Carrie F. Fletcher, Francesca Condello, Elena Klonitskaya, Jini Koh, James (J.J.) Saulino, David Wolff, Michael Larmoyeux.


• "Highlights from ICPHSO 2012," Product Risk Management Alert (March 6, 2012). Contacts: Bridget E. Calhoun, Laurent Ruessmann, Scott L. Winkelman, Natalia R. Medley, Laura Jastrem Walther.


• "This Month In International Trade - January 2012," (February 8, 2012). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Kristof Roox, Michael J. Songer, John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer, Cari N. Stinebower, Jini Koh, Elena Klonitskaya, Francesca Condello, David Wolff, Michael Larmoyeux.


• "Recent Developments In EU Export Controls And Sanctions," (January 31, 2012). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Elena Klonitskaya, Cari N. Stinebower, David Wolff.


• "Recent Guidance For The Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at The EU Border," International Trade Bulletin (January 20, 2012). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Kristof Roox, Francesca Condello, Michael J. Songer, Alexander H. Schaefer.


• "This Month In International Trade - November 2011," International Trade Bulletin (December 6, 2011). Contacts: John B. Brew, Alan W. H. Gourley, Laurent Ruessmann, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Peter F. Allgeier, Jini Koh, Michael Larmoyeux.


• "The Noose Tightens; The U.S., UK, and Canada Announce Coordinated Sanctions on Iran," International Trade Bulletin (November 22, 2011). Contacts: Alan W. H. Gourley, Laurent Ruessmann, Carrie F. Fletcher, Elena Klonitskaya, David Wolff.


• "This Month In International Trade - October 2011," International Trade Bulletin (November 2, 2011). Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Laurent Ruessmann, Alan W. H. Gourley, John B. Brew, Melissa Coyle, Daniel Cannistra, Jini Koh, David Wolff, Michael Larmoyeux, Ke Ji.


• "This Month In International Trade - September 2011," International Trade Bulletin (September 30, 2011). Contacts: Jeffrey L. Snyder, Laurent Ruessmann, John B. Brew, Alan W. H. Gourley, Daniel Cannistra, Carrie F. Fletcher, Jini Koh, David Wolff, Elena Klonitskaya, Michael Larmoyeux.


• "Landmark EU Court Ruling Annuls Anti-Dumping Measures For Lack of Injury Causation," International Trade Bulletin (September 28, 2011). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Daniel Cannistra, Elena Klonitskaya.


• "This Month In International Trade - August 2011," International Trade Bulletin (August 31, 2011). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Jeffrey L. Snyder, John B. Brew, Alan W. H. Gourley, Carrie F. Fletcher, Michael Larmoyeux, David Wolff.


• "Targeting Syria: New US and EU Sanctions?," International Trade Bulletin (August 19, 2011). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Jeffrey L. Snyder, Carrie F. Fletcher, David Wolff.


• "This Month In International Trade - July 2011," International Trade Bulletin (July 29, 2011). Contacts: Alan W. H. Gourley, Laurent Ruessmann, John B. Brew, Alexander H. Schaefer, Michael Larmoyeux.


• "European Commission Issues Green Paper To Launch Reform Of The EU’s Dual-Use Export Controls," (July 26, 2011). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, Alan W. H. Gourley.


• "EU Relents on Duty Free Status for Technology Products, But Limited Scale Will Result in Continued Litigation," International Trade Bulletin (July 6, 2011). Contacts: Laurent Ruessmann, John B. Brew, Daniel Cannistra.


• "This Month In International Trade - June 2011," International Trade Bulletin (July 1, 2011). Contacts: John B. Brew, Laurent Ruessmann, Alexander H. Schaefer, Carrie F. Fletcher, Michael Larmoyeux, David Wolff.


• "This Month In International Trade - May 2011," International Trade Bulletin (May 31, 2011). Contacts: John B. Brew, Laurent Ruessmann, Patricia L. Wu, Adelicia R. Cliffe, Michael Larmoyeux.


• "Are You Leaving Duty Refunds on the Table? Pursuing Duty-Free Imports Under the Information Technology Agreement," International Trade Bulletin (May 18, 2011). Contacts: John B. Brew, Daniel Cannistra, Melissa Coyle, Emmanuel Gybels, Laurent Ruessmann.

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Speaking Engagements

• "Avoiding Anti-Corruption Violations During Customs Transactions" C5's 7th Annual Advanced Forum on Global Customs Compliance, in Brussels, Belgium (May 23-24, 2012). Co-Speakers: John B. Brew, Alan W. H. Gourley and Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  
• "How to Win Support for Foreign Investment in Europe - Tips for Foreign Investors," International Capital Conference, Paris (November 22-24, 2011). Roundtable Speaker: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  
• "Customs and Trade: The Price of Admission: Managing the New Import Regulation Model and Avoiding Pitfalls at the Border," Crowell & Moring Product Risk Management Seminar (October 19, 2011). Moderator: Laurent Ruessmann. Panelists: Leigh Schmid (Limited Brands); Alex Schaefer.
  
  
• "Global Consumer Product Safety: Strategic Issues in Compliance, Reporting and Negotiating with Multiple Product Safety Regimes," Crowell & Moring Product Risk Management Seminar (October 19, 2011). Moderator: Bridget Calhoun. Panelists: Marc Schoem (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission); Sean Beckstrom (Graco Children's Products); Laurent Ruessmann; Laura Walther.
  
  
• "Investment Access to the EU and US Markets: Addressing Trade and Regulatory Barriers," Shenyang Conference, China (October 17, 2011). Speaker: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  
• "Green paper on dual-use export controls in the European Union," Dual Use Exporter Conference of the European Commission, Brussels (September 20, 2011). Panelist: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  
• "2011 Dual-use Exporter Conference," European Trade Commission, Brussels, Belgium (September 20, 2011). Speaker: Laurent Ruessmann.
  
  

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Newsroom

EU Considers Self-Initiated Trade Case Against Chinese Telecom Firms
April 4, 2012 — Inside US-China Trade

Brussels-based International Trade Group partner Laurent Ruessmann speaks to Inside US-China Trade about the European Commission's consideration of an anti-subsidy and possibly an antidumping investigation into sales of mobile telecommunications network equipment by China's two largest telecom companies.

According to Ruessmann, there would be concerns on two levels. He notes that one level is the technical aspect, since an ex officio case is not a "short cut on the technical justification for a case: you still need evidence of dumping, subsidies and causation." The other level is political, "because this is something that has not been done before and because you are talking about an extremely sensitive sector."

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Revising EU Trade Rules to Build a More United Europe
March 20-26, 2011 — New Europe

Laurent Ruessmann, Brussels-based partner and head the firm's European Trade practice, writes about building the unity of Europe through international trade.

According to Ruessmann, “the challenges for Europe brought on by the globalization of supply chains, the constant development of new products and technologies, and the changing policies of individual countries, are the same challenges that will provide important opportunities for building the unity of Europe in the domain of international trade.”

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Press Release & Announcements

Apr.06.2012	Legal 500 EMEA Recommends Crowell & Moring in Six Practice Areas and Names Two Attorneys to Elite Leading Lawyers List
Mar.26.2012	Chambers Global 2012 Ranks Six Crowell & Moring Attorneys and Four Practice Groups
Oct.05.2011	Crowell & Moring Consumer Product Safety Seminar to Feature Senator Mark Pryor and Other Key Government Officials
Jun.01.2011	28 Crowell & Moring Lawyers Recognized by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2011
Mar.09.2011	Laurent Ruessmann To Head Crowell & Moring's European Trade Practice