Edouard Gergondet is a counsel in Hughes Hubbard’s Paris office in the Litigation department. He is a member of the firm’s Sanctions, Export Controls & Anti-Money Laundering practice.
Edouard advises and represents companies, consortiums, trade associations and governments in a wide range of matters related to sanctions, export controls and trade compliance. His experience covers risk assessments, due diligences, transactional matters, contract reviews, establishing, monitoring and improving internal compliance programs, requesting and implementing authorizations or licenses, internal and external investigations, as well as litigation. Edouard also helps clients navigate conflicting trade compliance rules, including in relation to the EU blocking statute.
In addition to his trade compliance expertise, Edouard has also assisted clients in trade defense proceedings, including anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard investigations, on the interpretation and practical implementation of all aspects of international and bilateral trade agreements and on customs-related matters.
Edouard has assisted clients before national and international authorities, including Member States national competent authorities, Member States jurisdictions, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, United Nations Panels of Experts and World Trade Organization bodies involved in the dispute settlement process.
Edouard frequently speaks and writes on subjects related to sanctions, export controls and trade compliance.
Prior to joining the Firm, Edouard worked in the international trade practices of major international firms in Brussels.
Previous Experience
Counsel, Public Policy, Regulatory & Political Law and International Trade practice at the Brussels, Belgium office of an international law firm, 2016-2022
Associate, International Trade practice at the Brussels, Belgium office of an international law firm, 2012-2016
Court Admissions
Brussels, Belgium (Ordre français des avocats du barreau de Bruxelles), 2015
Paris, France (Registered under the Directive 98/5/EC list), 2022
Highlighted Lectures and Publications
Speaker, HHR Compliance Academy, June 29, 2022
Author, “EU top court clarifies the permissibility of protective measures against frozen assets,” WorldECR, December 2021 / January 2022
Author, “The European Union’s Proposed Carbon-Border Adjustment and Its Impact on Trade With Africa," International Trade and Customs Journal, November 2021
Author, “European Commission announces plans for forced labour import ban,” WorldECR, November 9, 2021
Speaker, “Operating in Russia – advice for international businesses going forward,” GIR Connect: Moscow 2021, September 16, 2021
Author, “Growing divergences between US and EU sanctions: the impact of a fast-moving sanctions landscape on compliance efforts,” WorldECR, December 2018
Recognitions
Recognized as a key lawyer in Belgium for customs, trade, WTO and anti-dumping by Legal 500 in 2022: “Edouard Gergondet has expertise in trade compliance and African Continental Free Trade Area opportunities”
Recognized by Best Lawyers in Belgium 2023 for European Union Law and Regulatory Law
Sanctions and Export Controls
Cross-sectoral expertise in assisting sovereign funds and private businesses assess the compliance of commercial, technical and financial transactions involving sanctioned jurisdictions (e.g., Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, etc.)
Assistance to large companies in the industrial and financial sectors in connection with inquiries from sanctions enforcement authorities, including before the UN's Panels of Experts and national authorities
Advice to industrial and new technology exporters on EU export control compliance requirements, including licensing processes and post-M&A integrations
Advice on sanctions and export control due diligences for sovereign funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and industrial manufacturers in connection with contemplated investments, mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings
Represented domestic producers, exporters and importers in the aluminum, steel, chemical and consumer goods sectors in trade defense proceedings, including anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard cases, in the EU, the US, the Eurasian Economic Union, India, Morocco, Brazil, etc.
Assisted Governments in several WTO disputes involving trade defense measures
Advice to Governments on the negotiations, drafting and implementation of free trade agreements, as well as advice to private parties on duty-savings and market access opportunities resulting from free trade agreements
Assistance to a exporters and intermediaries, including freight companies, in relation to disputes with customs authorities regarding classification, origin and valuation issues, as well as liability for the customs debt
