V V G B Advocaten-Avocats' practice excels at handling contentious trade defence cases, acting in high-profile WTO disputes as well as in EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations for a client roster that comprises governments and large multinationals. In addition to regularly acting on customs matters for its clients, the team's international arbitration expertise equips it to represent clients in their attempts to challenge and terminate safeguard measures and anti-dumping duties on an EU and third country level Increasingly, subsidies expert Edwin Vermulst also advises clients in connection with EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Vermulst co-leads the practice with anti-dumping expert Folkert Graafsma, who is a key contact for WTO cases. Further key contacts in the team include Joris Cornelis, whose practice spans the breadth of international trade law, and customs and anti-dumping expert Juhi Dion Sud.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘I work mostly with Mr. Folkert Graafsma. He is able and willing to assist me at any time, which gives me the confidence to ask about any legal matters, even if the most trivial question. The explanation given also always been easy to understand, yet meaningful.’

  • ‘The team is very dedicated and engaged in the case. The extensive know-how of previous cases help VVGB to make sound proposals which in return has a real positive outcome for our case.’

  • ‘I find the empathy and sincerity of the individuals is very important. I felt every step of the consultation very confident. Combined with their expertise in the subject matter, this made working with them very easy.’

Key clients

  • The Vitra Group
  • Ministry of Trade, Government of the Republic of Indonesia
  • China Chamber of Machinery and Electronic Products
  • Caesarstone
  • Huawei Group
  • The Electrosteel Group
  • Erdemir Çelik Servis Merkezi Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ
  • P.T. Permata Hijau Palm Oleo
  • Ministry of Commerce, Royal Government of Thailand
  • Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A
  • The World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry
  • Evonik Industries AG
  • WACKER GROUP
  • Ministry of Commerce, the People's Republic of China
  • Çolakoğlu Metalurji/ Dış Ticaret A.Ş.
  • The Hyundai Steel Group
  • Sinopec

Work highlights

  • Acted for the Vitra Group, the largest tile manufacturer in Türkiye, in the EU anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of ceramic tiles from Türkiye and India.
  • Advised the Legal Service and the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission in the EU's trade dispute with the Southern African Customs Union concerning the imposition of safeguard measures on poultry products from the EU.
  • Acted for Permata Hijau Palm Oleo, an Indonesian client operating in the palm oil sector, in the EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations concerning fatty acids from Indonesia and the court challenge before the EU Courts concerning the EU's imposition of anti-subsidy duties on biodiesel from Indonesia.

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Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Edwin Vermulst, Folkert Graafsma

Other key lawyers

Joris Cornelis, Juhi Dion Sud