PARTNER

Robert B. Silverman is one of the Firm’s founding members and heads the Firm’s litigation group.  Mr. Silverman is regarded as one of the foremost footwear classification experts in the United States and has been involved in all major footwear controversies affecting imports for over 30 years. These issues have included development of the foxing guidelines, unisex footwear standards, and standards for classifying plastic coated leather upper footwear.

Mr. Silverman routinely assists clients across a wide variety of industries in structuring import transactions to minimize customs duties, ensure regulatory compliance and eliminate penalty exposure.  He represents companies during audits involving classification, valuation and eligibility under Free Trade Agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA, AGOA, GSP, etc. He also counsels clients in connection with Customs investigations, seizures, exclusions, penalty and liquidated damages assessments.

Prior to entering into private practice, Mr. Silverman served as a trial attorney in the Customs Section of the Civil Division of the US Department of Justice where he represented US Customs in proceedings before the Court of International Trade, Federal District Courts, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.