World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Resolution & Counseling

With international politics upending global trade, an increased number of disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) is inevitable. Our international dispute resolution and counseling team has experience before this international organization under every WTO agreement and at every stage of the dispute process.

We provide legal and policy advice, advocating before foreign and domestic governments for clients navigating the global, regional and bilateral rules of commerce and investment. Our clients include sovereign governments to private equity firms, Fortune 500 manufacturing companies, technology firms and major trade associations. They represent industries from agriculture, financial services, and consumer electronics to semiconductors and manufactured goods; and regions that span from North America to Asia, and from Latin America to the Middle East.

Our lawyers have been involved for decades in critical matters before the WTO, including those affecting entire sectors and trading blocs of the economy. Our deep knowledge of the complex systems governing international trade, along with our relationships with key players around the world, lets us effectively:

Advise on the applicability of WTO rules to trade-restrictive policies of various governments, and assist in seeking United States or foreign government action in connection with potential WTO violations.
Represent the private sector and governments in connection with WTO dispute cases, and advise clients about the possible impact of WTO rulings and other bilateral and multilateral negotiations on their industry.
Develop proactive approaches to maintain a level playing field with trading partners and governments, consistent with WTO rules.
Evaluate the strength of potential WTO disputes, developing strategies for them offensively and defensively.
Handle governments’ WTO disputes and help them build internal capacity to engage in future disputes more independently.