Bird & Bird

Tax, International Trade & Customs, Information technology, Telecoms

Brian is a partner in our Tax Group, heading the International Trade & Customs Practice. He is based in The Hague. Brian represents clients, notably in the high-tech and communications sector, in trade compliance matters with a particular focus on EU export controls, economic sanctions, customs, free trade agreements and trade remedies. He has extensive experience with the EU's export controls and sanctions regulations including the interaction between EU and national laws and US rules. His experience includes both dual-use and military products and technologies.A significant part of Brian's practice involves assisting companies in understanding the concrete implications of restrictive measures (sanctions), designing and implementing international compliance programs and advising on complex questions of international compliance for companies with global operations, as is conducting internal investigations to examine allegations of wrongdoing.  In addition, Brian provides practical and clear advice to multi-national clients in relation to EU customs compliance, customs classification, customs valuation and transfer pricing, rules of origin and customs efficient supply chain (re-) structuring, including sourcing strategies and optimizing the use of free trade agreements. He assists companies in understanding the concrete implications of the WTO rules and treaty (trade) provisions for their business. Such understanding has helped his clients improve competitiveness and financial performance by making optimum use of trade and customs laws. Besides advisory, Brian’s practice includes also litigation.

Brian worked both in the industry as a tax director of two major (stock-listed) multinational companies and in private practice as a tax lawyer before joining Bird & Bird in 2009. Brian is a frequent speaker at professional and business courses in the field of export controls and customs compliance. He is an instructor at the International Tax Academy of the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD), where he teaches at the course Principles of Transfer Pricing (Customs Valuation).

Dutch and English

International Bar Association (IBA)International Fiscal Association (IFA)

Lawschool - University of Amsterdam International Trade & Customs Law - Tax Academy The Hague