Isabelle Van Damme
Partner Isabelle Van Damme specialises in international trade law (WTO and preferential trade agreements) and EU law. Her practice also covers all aspects of public international law. She represents governments and individuals before various international courts and tribunals. International trade law (WTO and preferential trade agreements) Isabelle advises clients on WTO procedural and substantive law and represents governments in WTO dispute settlement proceedings. Isabelle has represented WTO Members before WTO panels and the Appellate Body in dispute settlement proceedings involving, inter alia, export quotas and duties, accession protocols, export licensing, technical barriers to trade, transit restrictions, administration and review of trade measures, general exceptions and the security exception, minimum export pricing, discriminatory taxation and customs valuation. Isabelle advises governments and corporations on all aspects of the negotiation and implementation of preferential trade agreements and investment agreements. Her work on dispute settlement under preferential trade agreements includes designing a system of judicial remedies and advising a government in one of the first disputes arising under an EU preferential trade agreement.Isabelle previously gained experience in the area of WTO law as an associate at a Geneva-based law firm. She has also worked as a Legal Intern at the WTO Appellate Body Secretariat. She is currently lecturing on WTO Jurisprudence and Legal Advocacy at the Academy of International Economic Law and Policy (Greece). She has also taught WTO law at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) and the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) (Belgium). At the end of 2020, Isabelle was elected Executive Vice-President of the Society of International Economic Law. EU law Isabelle has significant expertise in the area of EU law. Her experience of acting or advising as counsel in cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union includes cases relating to Brexit, staff regulations, sanctions, EU tobacco legislation, State aid, the retroactive application of trade remedies and cases involving the relevance under EU law of the status of disputed territories under international law. She advises also on EU customs law, data protection and government procurement. Isabelle helps governments and industry with all matters relating to Brexit. She has appeared as an expert witness before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, speaking on Brexit and agriculture, and before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, answering questions on the implications of the EU Withdrawal Agreement and the backstop for Northern Ireland. Isabelle previously worked as a référendaire in the chambers of Advocate General Sharpston at the Court of Justice of the European Union. Public international law Isabelle regularly advises on a wide range of public international law matters, including the territorial scope of application of treaties, treaty obligations, human rights, investment and sanctions. She also advises on all matters relating to international dispute settlement and the negotiation of international agreements. Furthermore, she assists clients with matters involving the interpretation and enforcement of UN, EU and national sanctions. Isabelle has acted or advised as counsel in cases before the WTO and the Court of Justice of the European Union relating to the right of self-determination, the principle of sovereignty over natural resources and the protection of essential security interests. She has also advised in cases before the European Court of Human Rights.