Lourdes Catrain
Europe Guide 2024
Band 2 : International Trade/WTO
Band 2
About
Provided by Lourdes Catrain
Practice Areas
According to clients, Lourdes' "vast knowledge and experience is calming in the most stressful situations". Her practice focuses on international trade law and policy, including market access and regulatory matters involving economic sanctions, export controls, customs, and environmental and competition law issues relating to trade.
In the area of economic sanctions, in addition to advisory work, she's regularly involved in securing licenses, voluntary disclosures and related investigations and in assisting corporates with compliance programmes.
She helps governments and industry in anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard investigations. In the EU's largest trade dispute with China, solar panels, she represented the interests of a key EU upstream supplier which forcefully defended free trade. She's secured an amendment on the product scope of the UK measures on behalf of a leading US fuels producer.
Lourdes' in-depth knowledge of the EU institutions and the WTO has allowed her to assist governments to navigate free trade and investment negotiations. She also advises on WTO compatibility of EU trade and regulatory measures which impact trade (e.g., CBAM).
Lourdes also led the FDIs filings related to EUR12.3bn acquisition by GE of Alstom's energy activities.
She advises clients in a broad range of industries and services, including: life sciences, oil and gas, agricultural, chemicals, electronics, steel and general consumer goods sectors.
Chambers Review
Europe
Lourdes Catrain is reputed for her expertise in sanctions and export embargoes. Her impressive experience also includes interventions in EU anti-dumping expiry reviews and tariff matters, as well as CBAM challenges.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lourdes has high knowledge of the subject matter, availability, accessibility and customer focus."
"She picks things up very quickly and is very business-minded."
"Lourdes' advice is supported by thorough research and delivered in a practical format. She has extensive experience and offers valuable practical insights into the matters."
"Lourdes has high knowledge of the subject matter, availability, accessibility and customer focus."
"She picks things up very quickly and is very business-minded."
"Lourdes' advice is supported by thorough research and delivered in a practical format. She has extensive experience and offers valuable practical insights into the matters."