Dick Ignacio

As a senior associate in our Trade & Customs Group in The Hague and Brussels, I am an international trade and customs lawyer focusing on a broad spectrum of trading matters on behalf of our multinational and national clients.

When conducting international trade, businesses regularly see themselves confronted with multiple complex – and sometimes seemingly conflicting – international trade laws. I have advised various businesses related to the IT, financial and transport sector in multi-jurisdictional and local projects in view of EU export control, sanctions, customs, VAT and other EU trade related aspects. This has offered me valuable experience in projects relating to export control and sanctions compliance, customs valuation, customs classification, rules of origin, appeal procedures on anti-dumping and supply chain improvements from a customs and VAT perspective.

Along the years, I have developed a habit of using plain language when communicating with clients on often complicated international trade issues. I chose to study law as I considered it as a perfect option to combine my broad interests in international politics, economics and societal issues, which also comes into play when monitoring relevant issues that may affect your business when conducting international trade.

During my studies of EU law, I focused on issues related to EU trade affairs such as anti-dumping and free trade agreements. Before joining Bird & Bird in 2017, I practised trade and customs law at a global advisory firm.

• Representing a multinational company in relation to the export controls classification of encryption items and subsequent export controls licensing in different EU Member States.
• Providing legal advice in view of an customs appeal procedure related to the customs classification of telecommunications equipment.

• Providing legal advice to a leading aircraft importer on EU customs and VAT legislation in view of the import and subsequent lease of civil aircraft. Our advisory work included reviewing and drafting the contracts in order to mitigate the customs and VAT liabilities from a contractual perspective.
• Advising an international company in view of the VAT legislation related to yachts.