Overview
Renato Antonini is the managing partner of Steptoe's Brussels office.
For over 20 years Renato Antonini has represented clients on global trade legal and regulatory issues, in particular advising on EU trade matters, such as EU trade remedies investigations, sanctions, export controls and customs, as well as WTO trade law and trade remedies investigations in other jurisdictions.
He has a track record in achieving successful outcomes for clients before EU Courts, the European Commission and national regulators. Renato successfully assisted Jinan Meide Casting Co. Ltd, one of the largest manufacturers worldwide, in two landmark judgements of the European Court of Justice General Court concerning imports of threaded tube or pipe cast fittings, of malleable cast iron, originating from China. He also represented Jindal Saw Ltd, an international manufacturer headquartered in India, in two landmark judgments in cases concerning imports of tubes and pipes of ductile cast iron originating from India.
Renato advises international companies operating globally, and across all industries, in particular in steel manufacturing, chemicals, energy, and financial services as well as Sovereign states.
- Avocat, Brussels Bar
- Avvocato, Rome
- LL.M., University of Edinburgh
- J.D., University of Rome "La Sapienza", magna cum laude
- Erasmus Program, Utrecht University, Holland
Areas of Work
Speaking Engagements
- "The fragmentation of export controls and emerging trade barriers in the EU – a new challenge for compliance," NielsonSmith European Trade Controls Compliance Strategic Summit, October 16, 2024
- "New EU Regulatory Trade Barriers," Association of Corporate Counsel, Hong Kong, December 7, 2023
- "Trade compliance and due diligence impacts of specific proposals and legislation in the EU," NielsonSmith European Trade Controls Compliance Strategic Summit, Washington, DC, October 18, 2023
- Panelist, "Ukraine as part of the EU Internal Market," Office of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine public debate on "How to make it to the EU: Ukraine. Hard Talk,” August 17, 2023
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European Trade Controls Compliance Strategic Summit, Washington, DC, 18-19, October 2022
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"Developments in EU export controls regarding emerging technologies", The WorldECR Export Controls and Sanctions Forum, Washington, DC, October 17-18, 2022
- "Multi-Jurisdictional Scope Analyses and Filing Decision-Making in Real Life: Inside the Most Complex, High Stakes Challenges Coming Across Practitioners' Desks," C5's 3rd Annual European Forum on FDI Reviews and CFIUS, June 9, 2022
- "EU Court Cases," TDI Yearly 2021: Key Developments in the EU's Trade Defence Policy, Brussels School of Governance, November 18, 2021
News & Publications
Stepwise Risk Outlook
European Defense Sector Sees Demand for “Buy European” Policies Amid Growing Transatlantic Risks
March 14, 2025
By: Melissa B. Mahle
Client Alerts
European Commission Publishes Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector
March 13, 2025
By: Renato Antonini, Eva Monard, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Elli Zachari, Calista Babuder
Client Alerts
March 3, 2025
By: Ruxandra Cana, Eléonore Mullier, Renato Antonini, Eva Monard, Byron Maniatis, Elli Zachari, Yongqing Bao, Robert Klotz, Charles Whiddington, Sherazad Chaouch
Stepwise Risk Outlook
Amid Rising Geopolitical Risks, the EU Considers an European Defense Union
February 7, 2025
By: Melissa B. Mahle
Client Alerts
Regulatory Landscape in the EU and the UK: Key Considerations for 2025
January 16, 2025
By: Darren Abrahams, Renato Antonini, Ruxandra Cana, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Leigh Mallon, Alexandra Melia, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Zoe Osborne, Ronan Scanlan, Guy Soussan, Charles Whiddington, Elisabethann Wright, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Tom Gillett, Elli Zachari, Algirdas Semeta, Maria Salomé Bustos Mesa
Martina Scassini
Publications
Legal 500 International Trade Comparative Guide
December 2024
By: Renato Antonini, Eva Monard, Byron Maniatis, Yongqing Bao, Elli Zachari
Resources
Events
Seminars & Events
Brussels Symposium and Cocktail Reception
November 12, 2024
Speakers: Ruxandra Cana, Eric C. Emerson, Tyler Evans, Anne-Gabrielle Haie, Robert Klotz, Patrick F. Linehan, Byron Maniatis, Eva Monard, Eléonore Mullier, Daniel A. Mullen, Darryl Nirenberg, Meredith Rathbone, Jeffrey G. Weiss, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong
Seminars & Events
Global Trade and Enforcement Symposium in Hong Kong
June 1, 2023
Speakers: Renato Antonini, Yongqing Bao, Brigida Benitez, Brian G. Burke, Ali Burney, Henry Cao, John Caracappa, Boyd Cloern, Robyn C. Crowther, Brian J. Fleming, Coy Garrison, Zoey Hong, Stanley C. Kuo, Amy J. Lentz, Michelle L. Levin, Patrick F. Linehan, Jamie Lucia, Alexandra Melia, Cáitrín McKiernan, Eva Monard, Darryl Nirenberg, Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar, Angus Rodger, Guy Soussan, David M. Stetson, Grace Wang, Philip R. West, Charles Whiddington, Wendy Wysong, Lin Yang, Bo Yue, Wilson Zhao
Noteworthy
- "Lawyer of the Year" recipient in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers
- Chambers Global - International Trade/WTO, Europe-wide (2023-2025)
- Chambers Europe, International Trade/WTO, Europe-wide (2013-2025)
- Legal 500 EMEA, Customs, Trade, WTO, and Antidumping, Belgium, Leading Lawyer (2023-2024)
- Legal 500, Customs, Trade, WTO, and Antidumping (2013-2022)
- Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards, UK, Government, Public Sector (Spring 2024)
- Lexology Index: Trade and Customs, Global Elite Thought Leaders (2025)
- Who's Who Legal: Trade and Customs, Global Elite Thought Leaders (2018-2024)
- Who's Who Legal: Trade and Customs (2014-2024)
- Who's Who Legal: Competition, State-aid (2013-2023)
- "Best Lawyers in Belgium" for Trade law (2013-2022)
- ILO Client Choice Award for EU trade and customs (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015)
Professional Affiliations
- Ambassador for Belgium, International Sanctions and Export Control Society (ISECS)
- Member of the International Academy of Customs Law
- Member of the Editorial Board of Global Trade and Customs Journal
- Member of the Advisory Board of Practical Trade & Customs Strategies, Thomson Reuters (2012-2014)