The Firm was founded in 1996 and concentrates its practice in the area of customs, export, international trade and related transactional law. We regularly appear before the U.S. Court of International Trade, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the federal district courts and local state courts in appropriate cases. We also appear regularly before various federal agencies involved with imported and exported merchandise, including , U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the International Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Fish & Wildlife Service, the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and other federal and state administrative agencies.
Jerry P. Wiskin, a founding member, has been engaged in this practice since 1974, and spent 12 years as a senior trial attorney with the International Field Office of the U.S. Department of Justice, representing, among others, the U.S. Customs Service (now, Customs and Border Protection). Philip Y. Simons, a founding member, has been engaged in this practice since 1977, and has a Ph.D. degree in Mineralogy/Geochemistry in addition to his law degree. Patrick C. Reed, who is of counsel to the Firm, concentrates his practice on U.S. customs, international trade, and import-export laws, as well as commercial litigation arising from international business transactions. In addition to his law degree, Mr. Reed received a Ph.D. in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, with concentrations in international law and international economic relations. Mr. Reed is an Adjunct Professor of Law at both St. John’s University School of Law and Baruch College of the City University of New York.
Our clients include major chemical companies, importers of textile and apparel products, manufacturers of electrical components and high tech electronics, importers of caviar and other food products, manufacturers of engineered wood flooring and customs brokers, as well as surety companies and small companies and individuals who have need of customs counsel. Additionally, former clients include footwear importers and manufacturers of china, bone china, and other ceramic articles.
Our Firm’s goal is to provide sound and cost effective legal representation.