International Trade & Supply Chain Management

Overview

Benesch’s thought leadership on these issues and select media mentions are available here:

Supply chain management strategies are a key market differentiator and a competitive advantage, both for our clients and our practice. Our team is nationally preeminent in bringing expertise, innovation and pragmatism to domestic and global supply chains. We understand that effectively doing business at home and abroad while navigating tariffs, forced labor risk, economic sanctions and export controls drives business and reduces reputational or enforcement hazards.

International Trade

Benesch represents clients in all manner of international and cross-border regulatory compliance and enforcement issues that impact supply chains, including import compliance, export controls and economic sanctions. We take the lead quickly and clearly, answering ad hoc questions. We develop risk assessments, tailored compliance programs and operational procedures that align business and risk management perspectives. We provide confident guidance and effective representation during enforcement actions, regulatory audits and voluntary disclosures, and in defense of seizures, fines, civil penalties, forfeitures and liquidated damages actions.

Key Services

Supply Chain Management

Benesch represents clients in developing and efficiently operating their domestic and global supply chains across various industries. The team drafts and negotiates contractual relationships with suppliers, distributors, sales agents, service providers and technology providers. Assistance includes developing compliant sourcing strategies for procurement teams, including codes of conduct and supplier onboarding procedures. Clients also rely on us when entering new markets, where customer onboarding procedures and shipping procedures must effectively integrate export controls and sanctions screening concerns.

Contractual relationships are developed for freight flows, including global suites tailored to ocean bids, air traffic, domestic motor carriage, brokerage, warehousing, fulfillment, final mile delivery and reverse logistics. The firm also advises on operations-level compliance for hazardous materials, packaging and labeling. When losses or interruptions occur, including cargo theft or supply chain fraud, the team moves quickly to deploy pragmatic negotiation and cost-effective litigation strategies.

Key Services

Your Team for Today’s Challenges

Our team appreciates the high-profile and high-impact nature of international trade and supply chain management. We “get it” because so many members of our team come from the industry as former in-house counsel, operators and senior executives. One of our attorneys represented the industry during the initial NAFTA negotiations. Another attorney is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker who once worked in-house for a customs broker. We have a voting member of a District Export Council. Across our team, we also have true business backgrounds with multiple MBAs and one member with a graduate degree in supply chain management. Our team members also hold leadership roles in various supply chain-related trade associations.