Paulette Vander Schueren

Private and governmental clients turn to Paulette for advice on the negotiation and interpretation of international and bilateral agreements concluded by the EU and on World Trade Organization (WTO) issues.

Paulette has been involved in numerous international trade disputes and appeared before the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and European courts. She has also handled significant WTO dispute settlements.

Paulette represents and advises private companies on the interpretation of EU and international provisions, export controls and economic sanctions, and the implementation of these provisions by EU Member States, both regarding ad hoc issues and the drafting of compliance documents or contractual provisions. She also advises clients on the implications of the European Union’s anti-boycott provisions. In these matters, Paulette and her colleagues in Brussels work seamlessly with members of the International Trade group located in Washington DC and London.

Clients benefit from her representation in a range of customs matters involving inter alia tariff classification, including before EU and EU Member State authorities, the World Customs Organization (WCO), and authorities outside the EU. She represents clients on customs valuation matters involving EU and WTO/WCO provisions before EU, EU Member State and third-country authorities. Paulette advises clients on economic tariff regimes including inward processing and processing under customs control or duty suspensions and tariff quotas. She counsels clients on EU and international origin rules as well as origin labelling and on the EU’s General System of Preferences.

Paulette serves clients on EU’s harmonization legislation and its implementation in the EU Member States, including technical regulations and standards, safety regulations and provisions affecting the marketing of goods (including sales promotion guarantees), as well as excise, VAT and environmental provisions. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, Paulette has also counselled clients on EU institutional matters and the balance of powers.

Paulette advises clients on novel ESG regulatory issues including forced labour, environmental issues such as deforestation, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and Emissions Trading System (ETS), foreign direct investment, third-country subsidies regulations, and supply chain due diligence compliance.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Paulette was co-head of the International Trade team at another prominent law firm.

• Drafting of supply chain agreements (e.g., manufacturing agreements, licensing agreements, agency agreements) from the point of view of WTO provisions, WCO interpretation, EU law and interpretation as well as in other countries.
• UN and EU sanctions and export control provisions and their interpretation including by EU Member State as well as advice in litigation in this regard.
• Market access issues under WTO agreements and other trade agreements including strategy towards increased market access.

• “I feel so reassured to have her. Timelines and deadlines, things to do—everyone was prepared well and she has excellent time management.” – Chambers Global
• “A creative international trade lawyer with very deep knowledge and experience. She adds value by identifying solutions to the issues companies with global supply chains face in today’s complex environment.” – Chambers Global
• “Enormous wealth of experience, eye for the larger detail.” – Chambers Global
• “Very wise and a pleasure to listen to.” – Chambers Europe
• “She is extraordinary in many respects.” – Chambers Europe