Iain MacVay

Partner

• imacvay@steptoe.com
• vCard
• London Office

Iain is a partner in the international law and trade group in the London and Brussels offices of Steptoe & Johnson.  He focuses on European and international trade and regulatory law and has particular experience in legal aspects of the World Trade Organization (WTO).  He is actively involved in dispute settlements and business strategy advice designed to maximize commercial opportunities of international trade and investment for clients.

His clients include governments and businesses.  For example, he works with the European spirits industry to challenge discriminatory tax regimes and other trade barriers.  He has advised the industry on three successful WTO challenges in respect to excise taxes in Japan, Chile, and Korea.  These cases have become the core of international jurisprudence on tax discrimination against imported products.  Iain also has experience advising governments, including the European Commission and industry in WTO and other international law issues affecting the luxury goods, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, electronic goods, and steel sectors.

Iain has extensive experience with the rules and rule-making procedures of the WTO and other international organizations including theWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other United Nations agencies.  For example, his practice in respect to the relationship between geographical indications and trademarks has involved WTO, WIPO, and EU enlargement and sectoral bilateral agreements as well as domestic legislation and judicial decisions.

Iain has a substantial practice in all aspects of European trade laws including trade barriers regulation complaints, anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases, safeguards, customs law, export control, and sanctions regimes.  He works with both European Commission and national authorities in these areas, and he has represented exporters confronted by anti-dumping and anti-subsidy actions.

He has also advised clients, including the European Commission and major pharmaceutical and music industry clients on development and application of intellectual property laws under the TRIPs Agreement.  This work has included application of WTO and WIPO treaties to new technologies.

Iain’s practice includes European Community law and public international law.  He has helped clients in respect to the application of European Community legislation to problems of customs, labeling, technical standards, and other aspects of single market legislation.  He has also helped clients in respect to health and environmental policy.

A growing aspect of his practice is business strategy advice, involving the management and application of international regulatory regimes in the business environment. This includes preparation of strategies for global application of trade remedies and for ensuring that clients’ commercial priorities are reflected in development of legal regimes regulating the globalized economy.  For example, he has advised a number of industry bodies on preparations for WTO negotiations and represents clients at key WTO and WPO meetings including the WTO Ministerials held every two years.

Noteworthy & Success Stories

• Ranked, Chambers Global 2008, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Belgium International Trade/WTO
• Listed in Who's Who Legal for Trade & Customs in 2008
• In addition to the publications, Iain has contributed comments to the WTO dispute settlement cases to accompany the published case reports.

News, Seminars & Events

• 18 Steptoe Attorneys Selected for Who's Who Legal
• Conference on Trade and Terrorism, January 30, 2004
• Ninth Annual Biocidal Conference, October 29, 2002

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Editor, Liberalisation and Protectionism in the World Trading System
  May 1999, Cameron
• Business Opportunities and the Government Procurement Agreement
  May 1998, Cameron
• Editor, The WTO and International Trade Regulation
  May 1998, Cameron

Professional Affiliations

• International Trade Law Reports, Editorial Board
• Treasurer, The World Trade Law Association