W. George Grandison

Partner

1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20036
TEL: 202.429.6447
FAX: 202.429.3902

W. George Grandison is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the International Department. He practices in the areas of international trade, export controls and customs. He served as Vice Chairman of the firm from 1996 through the spring of 1998. Prior to joining Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Mr. Grandison served with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Department of the Army and was a member of the US Delegation to the Diplomatic Conference on Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict.

International Trade Litigation
Mr. Grandison's practice in international trade litigation has encompassed a wide variety of major cases under the antidumping and countervailing duty laws, Section 301, and other statutes that address import relief. These cases have involved litigation before the Department of Commerce, the International Trade Commission, the US Trade Representative, the Court of International Trade and binational panels established under the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Mr. Grandison's cases have involved agricultural and forestry products including sugar, wheat and lumber, and manufactured products including steel, oil platforms, heavy electrical equipment, chemicals, and optical fiber, and high technology products and materials. In antidumping litigation, he has represented clients involved in the sale of complex, high technology equipment as well as clients with large volume sales of sophisticated commercial products. Under the countervailing duty law, Mr. Grandison has extensive experience in cases involving the pricing of natural resources, subsidy aspects of export restrictions, and capital subsidies for major product lines.

In addition to representing clients in international trade litigation, Mr. Grandison regularly advises clients on methods of protecting themselves from international trade litigation and represents clients in connection with proposed antidumping and countervailing legislation.

Customs Advice and Investigations
Mr. Grandison has advised a wide range of domestic and foreign clients regarding compliance with Customs and related import and export regulatory requirements. He advises clients with regard to; classification under the Harmonized Tariff System; valuation; country of origin designation and marking; duty preference programs including requirements under NAFTA and the Caribbean Basin Agreement; and the special customs provisions for US goods returned. He also advises clients regarding administrative rulings, protests, judicial review of Customs actions and Customs administration of quotas and orders issued under the US antidumping countervailing and duty law.

In addition to providing customs advice, Mr. Grandison represents clients in civil investigations under Section 1592 and advises on related issues including prior disclosure, Customs seizures and Customs criminal investigations. He also advises clients regarding responses to Customs inquiries and represents clients in Customs compliance audits.

Export Controls Advice and Investigations
Mr. Grandison provides advice concerning compliance with export control regulations including regulations maintained by the Department of Commerce and by the Office of Defense Trade Controls at the Department of State. He has represented clients in international civil and criminal fraud investigations and has advised on internal investigations to address potential violations of US trade, tax, customs and procurement law.

Noteworthy

Ranked, Chambers Global 2008: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business; US: International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy
Listed in Who's Who Legal for Trade & Customs in 2008
US Army, Infantry 1966-69, RVN 1967-68
Ranked, Chambers USA 2007, America's Leading Business Lawyers; National International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy

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Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association, Sections of Business Law
International Bar Association, Section on Business Law
American Society of International Law