We offer a variety of seminars that will help your company or Trade Association gain deeper insight and knowledge into various customs and trade issues. We will readily tailor seminars to your company or organization’s specific needs, and develop new seminars relating to the Customs law and trade issues upon request. Our seminars may be provided live at your company’s offices, at your organization’s chosen venue, or virtually via teleconference, video conference, or other preferred methods. To arrange for us to present a seminar to your company or organization, please contact Neil Mooney.
Topics covered in this seminar include:
What is the purpose of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism?
Why join the C-TPAT effort with U.S. Customs?
A complete outline of the processes and Rules for participation.
Hands-on Practice completing a sample application and attachments.
Topics covered pertaining to the professional handling of customs penalties include the following:
The best procedures for responding to Customs demands for penalties and/or liquidated damages.
Common basis’ for Customs penalty or Customs Seizure actions.
Reviewing actual penalty cases and how they were handled.
Discussion of various ports and how each port interprets and implements inspection, detention, seizure, and other enforcement rules.
Review of the Administrative and Judicial procedures of petition and appeal.
Areas of concern regarding legal risks in the shipping and logistics industry include questions such as:
What is my financial risk as freight forwarder, NVOCC, or Air Consolidator?
What should I know about co-loading?
Am I using the right wording on bills of lading, house airway bills, warehouse receipts, and other negotiable documents?
Why are COGSA and the Warsaw Convention important?
How can I inform my customers about my legal liability?
How can I limit my company’s risk of errors and omissions claims?
Topical questions covered in this seminar regarding licensing, enforcement, and defense issues as they pertain to the Federal Maritime Commission include:
What experience must I have to obtain an Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) license and what steps must I take to obtain one?
At what is the FMC looking now?
What are the different rights and obligations of the two types of ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs): Ocean Freight Forwarders (FFs) and Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs)?
What has the FMC penalized recently and in what amounts?
What are the most commonly found violations of OTIs?
How can I avoid FMC penalties?
Helpful Links:
CFR PART 515—General Duties For Ocean Transportation Intermediaries
CFR PART 520—Carrier Automated Tariffs
Topics covered regarding Free Trade Agreements in this seminar include:
Basic importing and exporting requirements under FTAs.
Determining whether your products meet the requirements for rules of origin under free trade agreements
Ensuring preferential treatment under FTAs.
Topics covered pertaining to the various intricacies of business formation and valuation within this seminar include:
Determining if incorporation is necessary for the intended business venture.
Differences between Corporations, Partnerships, LLCs and LLPs.
Minimizing the costs of formation and maintenance of the entity.
Determining when CPAs and Attorneys may be unnecessary.
The process of adding a partner or investor to your business.
The process of selling or acquiring an ongoing business.
Valuing a closely held business for estate planning purposes.
Topics covered in this seminar regarding client bankruptcy include:
Advanced steps to minimize exposure and maximize dollar recovery.
Detecting warning signs of a client’s impending bankruptcy.
Your rights as a creditor of a bankrupt entity.
Procedural agenda of a bankruptcy case.
Fighting preferences and the demand to return payments.
Breaching a bankruptcy by showing fraudulent transfers by the debtor.