Perfil
Laura Siegel Rabinowitz counsels domestic and multinational businesses on complex supply chain issues and other complicated challenges associated with trade, advising on mitigation of duty exposure and compliance. Laura has deep experience handling international trade projects for multinational importers, exporters, manufacturers, retailers, customs brokers, and freight forwarders in industries such as renewable energy, steel, apparel, consumer products and industrial equipment among others.
Laura advises on supply chain strategies including the enforcement of forced-labor and the mitigation of tariffs on Chinese-made products, steel and aluminum. She helps clients navigate the maze of regulations, customs, and other government agency scrutiny, as well as the broad array of commercial and enforcement laws and policies administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including trade compliance and audit programs, and duty savings initiatives such as free trade agreements and the use of “first sale.” Laura’s practice also includes advising on the enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duties.
Laura’s depth of knowledge regarding global customs law extends to audits, marking, penalty defense, valuation, tariff classification, entry procedures, and antiterrorism initiatives. She advises on other import requirements administered by federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Environmental Protection Agency, and requirements involving the health and safety of imported goods.
Prior to entering private practice, Laura served as an attorney with U.S. Customs’ Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, representing Customs in litigation in the Court of International Trade.
Concentrations
- Supply chain strategies
- Global customs law
- Forced labor enforcement
- Tariffs on Chinese-made products
- Trade compliance and audit programs
- Country of origin issues
- Duty savings initiatives
- Antidumping and countervailing duties
- First Sale
- Free Trade Agreements
- Valuation and classification of imported goods
Capacidades
Experiencia
- Represented a nationwide retailer in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention of its imported shipments of cotton apparel pursuant to a Withhold Release Order.
- Advised numerous importers on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act compliance, including mapping supply chains and editing purchase agreements, supplier codes of conduct, and other supplier agreements.
- Represented a public company and importer of commodities in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection audit.°
- Represented a large importer of pumps and valves in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigation covering valuation, classification, antidumping, and USMCA issues.
- Counseled numerous importers of consumer products, outdoor power equipment, machinery parts, and apparel in establishing the duty savings program, “first sale.”°
- Represented a major importer of auto industry parts in the Section 301 exclusion process.°
- Represented a large U.S. exporter of furniture in a Canada Border Services Agency investigation into NAFTA violations.°
- Represented a major retailer in the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill process.
- Represented a public company in numerous prior disclosures before the U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding the misclassification of its merchandise.°
- Represented a public company in several prior disclosures before the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the parameters of scope rulings.°
- Represented a major health and beauty company on a detention of its merchandise in violation of FDA regulations.°
- Represented a large public company and importer of textbooks and other educational materials in a compliance review and the filing of prior disclosures with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the undervaluation of its merchandise.°
- Assisted a large importer of furniture in a compliance review of the classification, valuation, and marking of its merchandise.°
- Represented a major importer of pipe parts in a prior disclosure before the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the misclassification and undervaluation of its merchandise.°
°The above representations were handled by Ms. Rabinowitz prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Attorney, U.S. Customs Service, Assistant Chief Counsel’s Office, 1992-1996
Reconocimientos y Liderazgo
- Shortlisted, Euromoney, Americas Women in Business Law Awards, "Best in International Trade," 2023
- Listed, Chambers Global, “International Trade: Customs,” 2021-2024
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, “International Trade: Customs,” 2017-2024
- Listed, Thomson Reuters, “Stand-Out Lawyers,” 2023-2024
- Member, American Association of Exporters and Importers
- Chair, Textiles, Apparel, and Footwear Committee
- Advisory Board, Retailers United
- Member, Organization of Women in International Trade
- Past President, New York Chapter
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, International Trade Section
- Member, Customs and International Trade Bar Association
- Member, U.S. Fashion Industry Association
Credenciales
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
- B.A., University of Pennsylvania
- Nueva York
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of International Trade