King & Spalding LLP built out its international trade practice with the arrival of trade defence and customs experts Arnoud Willems and Bregt Natens from Baker McKenzie BV/SRL in February 2025. Willems heads the practice.

Mayer Brown stands out for its depth of expertise spanning sanctions compliance matters, high-profile trade defence investigations, and critical WTO disputes. Paulette Vander Schueren co-heads the team and is a key contact among major regulated sector and consumer goods clients on export control, sanctions, and trade and customs matters. Also co-leading the practice, Nikolay Mizulin acts for major multinational clients regarding anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations, WTO disputes, and EU regulatory issues. Dylan Geraets is a further key contact, supporting the team in international trade disputes, sanctions issues, and due diligence matters.

A key port of call for sovereigns, corporates, and industry organisations, Van Bael & Bellis offers broad expertise in critical trade defence and WTO matters. Fabrizio Di Gianni is regularly entrusted to advise on anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguarding investigations. Philippe De Baere is a longstanding expert in trade law matters and acts for international governments in high-profile trade defence and WTO matters. A further key contact for trade defence matters, Richard Luff is highly sought-after for his expertise in anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations. Joanna Redelbach stands out in WTO disputes. Yuriy Rudyuk heads the practice. Benoît Servais  left the firm in February 2025.

Established in November 2024, Cassidy Levy Kent (Europe) SRL brings together standout expertise across the trade, customs, and WTO landscape. An expert in trade defence and trade remedy, Marie-Sophie Dibling focuses her practice on anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations. A customs specialist, Yves Melin handles sanction and export control compliance, trade defence, and carbon trading matters. Supporting the team is Jesse De Bruyn, an expert in administrative and contentious customs matters; Isabel Fressynet, who focuses on trade defence, sanctions, and export controls; and trade defence specialist Hamza Mountagui.

Dentons stands out for its deep knowhow of customs and trade issues within regulated sectors. Edward Borovikov heads the practice and is a particular expert on anti-dumping investigations, safeguard proceedings, and trade policy. Xiaoyi Tang is highly sought-after among major Chinese state-owned companies, corporates, and trade associations within the energy and industrial sectors. Nicoleta Montag handles EU trade restriction proceedings. Taras Povorozniuk bolsters the team with his global trade defence and product regulatory expertise, while Aurore Ancion supports on tariff and sanctions mandates.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I stands out for the depth of its expertise on business-critical trade issues within regulated sectors. Heading the team is Olivier Prost, who maintains a diverse practice spanning anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard proceedings. Prost is highly sought-after among major European trade associations and leading corporates within the manufacturing, agrifood, and aerospace sectors. A further expert regarding trade defence instruments, Clément Bouvarel is a key contact among major European trade associations operating within the industrial and agrifood spaces.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is highly sought-after on customs, trade defence, and sanctions matters within regulated sectors. Renato Antonini, who joined the firm in September 2025, brings demonstrable expertise in business-critical trade defence and sanctions issues. Lourdes Catrain offers a wealth of expertise regarding export control, sanctions, and trade defence issues. Falk Schöning focuses on trade regulatory issues. The three co-head the practice. Further key contacts include Eva Monard, who brings a strong track-record in trade defence and sanctions matters, and Byron Maniatis, who supports the team; both also joined the firm in September 2025.

Offering particular expertise on international trade law matters within regulated sectors, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is regularly entrusted by multinational corporates, industrial players, and financial institutions. Heading the team is François-Charles Laprévote, who focuses on trade defence and regulatory matters. Vladimir Novak supports on foreign direct investment control matters. A further key contact is Wanjie Lin, who leads on FDI and FSR matters and elsewhere supports the team across international trade issues. Till Müller-Ibold left the firm in December 2024.

Crowell & Moring is regularly entrusted for its wealth of expertise in complex trade defence, customs, and tariff matters. At the head of the team is Vassilis Akritidis, who handles anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard investigations, as well as customs matters. Maria Krestiyanova supports the team on matters concerning trade remedies and trade defence instruments. Highly sought-after within the steel and chemicals sector, Jean-Baptiste Blancardi also assists in trade remedies investigations.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP acts for clients in the energy and natural resources, chemicals, aviation, and engineering sectors on matters concerning sanctions, trade defence, and trade policy. Additionally, the team demonstrates expertise in WTO proceedings. The ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’ trade law specialist Lode Van Den Hende co-leads the team alongside Morris Schonberg, who focuses his practice on anti-dumping, anti-subsidy, and safeguard investigations. Paula González Alarcón supports the team.

RB Legal is highly sought-after to advise on anti-dumping complaints, trade defence measure reviews, and product regulation. The practice is co-led by Laurent Ruessmann, who stands out for his ‘unparalleled expertise’ and ‘sharp strategic thinking’, and Jochen Beck, who demonstrates an ‘exceptional grasp’ of complex matters and a ‘deep understanding of business realities. Supporting the team is Kristiyana Drandarova, who advises on EU trade defence instruments, and Pieter Van Vaerenbergh, who assists across trade policy and regulatory issues.

White & Case LLP is regularly instructed by major global clients on high-profile trade law matters. Heading the team is longstanding trade defence expert James Killick, who assists on major and landmark safeguard and anti-dumping investigations and proceedings. Highly sought-after in the energy and tech sectors, Sara Nordin focuses her practice on sanctions, export control, and trade compliance matters. A further key contact is Genevra Forwood, who leads on contentious and regulatory trade matters.

Ashurst LLP acts for global clients on business-critical trade defence, export control, and sanctions mandates. Heading the team is Claus Zimmermann, who demonstrates a deep track-record in foreign direct investment regulation, anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations, and export control matters. The team is supported by Emilia Etz, a sanctions and export control expert, and Nina Schwartz, who specialises in trade policy and regulation.

Bird & Bird is regularly instructed by European and global corporates and trade associations. Heading the practice is the ‘knowledgeable, hands-on, and strategically very impressive’ Hein Hobbelen. Hobbelen is highly sought-after to assist in anti-dumping investigations and proceedings, sanctions issues, and trade defence complaints. A further key contact is Baptist Vleeshouwers, who supports the team on a breadth of trade defence matters.

DLA Piper is highly sought-after to advise on anti-dumping complaints, product regulation, and EU trade policy. Anna Dias co-leads the team and is a key contact for trade law issues within the chemicals sector. Also co-heading the practice, Richard Sterneberg leads on matters concerning product regulation and export control. María Paula Barbosa, Anna Kovaleva, and Ignacio Escondrillas support the team.

Offering ‘deep knowledge in trade’, Garrigues is highly sought-after among corporates and industry associations operating in the metals, food and agriculture, and pharmaceuticals sectors. Heading the practice is Angel Givaja, who stands out for his advice on anti-dumping investigations and reviews, export controls, and EU trade regulation. Ana Rebollar and Silvia Terzuli support the team. Alfonso Lamadrid and Nieves Bayón left the firm in June and October 2025, respectively.

Jones Day stands out for its ‘very good and detailed knowledge’ of complex trade law matters. Heading the practice is longstanding expert Nadiya Nychay, an specialist in trade defence, trade policy and regulatory, and sanctions matters. Further key contacts include Philipp Werner, an expert on the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation, and Dimiter Arsov, who supports the team.

K&L Gates GP stands out for its breadth of trade law expertise within regulated sectors, acting for major clients across the European, Asian, and US markets. The team is co-headed by Mélanie Bruneau, an expert on foreign direct investment issues in the aerospace, automotive, and technology sectors; and Nikolaos Peristerakis, who brings a wealth of expertise concerning sanctions and foreign direct investment issues.

Sheppard stands out for its experience of handling European and US trade law issues for a broad range of multinational clients. Heading the team is longstanding expert Curtis Dombek, who is regularly entrusted to advise on trade regulation compliance and export control matters across the electronics, transport, and manufacturing sectors. The team is supported by Julien Blanquart.