Erik D Smithweiss represents clients on issues before U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of  Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Food & Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission and other agencies that regulate the international trade in goods. His practice involves import restrictions, rules of origin, preferential trade agreements, marking and labeling, valuation, tariff classification, antidumping and countervailing duty compliance, Fish & Wildlife restrictions, and similar matters.

Mr. Smithweiss’ practice includes export controls and sanction programs administered by various agencies. Mr. Smithweiss represents clients in all areas of customs import/export procedure and administration, such as audits, investigations, False Claims Act litigation, penalties, judicial and administrative forfeiture proceedings, compliance programs, administrative rulings and litigation.

Mr. Smithweiss is one of several trial attorneys in the firm and appears regularly in matters before the U.S. Court of International Trade, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and federal district courts. He is the author of “A Race To The Courthouse?: Jurisdiction Over Customs Admissibility Decisions,” 21 Tul. J. Int’l & Comp. L. 291 (2013).

Rutgers University Law School J.D. (1992)

Hamilton College B.A. (1987)

Kings College, University of London (1985-1986)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1996)

U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1997)

U.S. Court of International Trade (2008)

U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2009)

U.S. Supreme Court (1996)

American Association of Exporters and Importers

American Bar Association, International Law Section

California State Bar Membership

Customs and International Trade Bar Association

Foreign Trade Association of Southern California, Past President and Chairman

International Compliance Professionals Association

Los Angeles County Bar Association, International Law Section 

Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association

New York State Bar Membership

Instructor:

Customs Broker Licensing exam preparation course, Foreign Trade Association of Southern California