Erik Smithweiss

Erik Smithweiss is a partner resident in the Los Angeles office. Mr. Smithweiss represents clients on issues before U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Food & Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission and other agencies that regulate the international trade in goods. His practice involves import restrictions, rules of origin, preferential trade agreements, marking and labeling, valuation, tariff classification, antidumping and countervailing duty compliance, trademark and copyright protection, Fish & Wildlife restrictions, and similar matters. Mr. Smithweiss also assists clients with matters pending before customs administrations in other countries and at the World Customs Organization in Brussels. Mr. Smithweiss’ practice includes export controls and sanction programs administered by various agencies. Mr. Smithweiss represents clients in all areas of customs import/export procedure and administration, such as audits, investigations, penalties, forfeiture proceedings, compliance programs, administrative rulings and litigation. Mr. Smithweiss is one of several trial attorneys in the firm and appears regularly in matters before the U.S. Court of International Trade, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and federal district courts. ​ Mr. Smithweiss is an instructor of the customs broker licensing exam preparation course and several other classes conducted by the Foreign Trade Association of Southern California. EXPERIENCE AUTHOR "A Race To The Courthouse?: Jurisdiction Over Customs Admissibility Decisions," 21 Tul. J. Int’l & Comp. L. 291 (2013) PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Foreign Trade Association of Southern California, President American Association of Exporters and Importers Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association International Compliance Professionals Association BAR ASSOCIATIONS Los Angeles County Bar Association, International Law Section, Customs Law Committee Customs and International Trade Bar Association American Bar Association, International Law Section COURT ADMISSIONS US District Court, District of New Jersey (1992) US District Court, Central District of California (2009) US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1996) US Court of International Trade (2008) US Supreme Court (1996) US Court of Federal Claims (1997) STATE BAR MEMBERSHIP New Jersey (1992) New York (1995) California (2008) EDUCATION Rutgers University Law School J.D. (1992) Hamilton College B.A. (1987) Kings College, University of London (1985-1986)