Zac Chami

Practice Areas

Zac Chami has led the firm's international trade law, customs and dumping practice for over ten years, earning a highly respected reputation in this area of law.

Zac represents clients on complex, high value dumping investigations, as well as sensitive customs breaches. He has conducted merits review matters before the Australian Anti-Dumping Review Panel (ADRP), the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal and judicial review proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia (first instance and appellate divisions), advised clients and lodged voluntary disclosure notices with the relevant government authority in connection with prohibited imports and exports and is trusted by international clients on Australian customs and anti-dumping issues.

Zac is also recognised for his expertise in complex commercial litigation, private law, public law and insolvency.

Work Highlights

Successfully represented Siemens before the Anti-Dumping Commissioner, the Anti-Dumping Review Panel, and the Federal Court (first instance and appeal) in relation to a dumping investigation concerning power transformers exported from China. This was one of the most complex investigations undertaken by the Commission to date.

Represented Direct Trades Supply in its successful high-value Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) proceedings challenging various tariff classification decisions made by the Australian Border Force in respect of fencing products imported from China.

Advising Sleeping Duck on all trade-related aspects of its expansion into the United States market, including anti-dumping and tariff classification issues, the Australia US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), and corporate structuring strategies to minimise the impact of these duties and tariffs.

Advised multiple international defence and aerospace contractors in respect of highly sensitive voluntary disclosures. The depth and sophistication of those disclosures ultimately satisfied the government in each instance that it should not proceed to prosecution.

Acted for a global logistics company in obtaining exoneration orders, from any criminal liability in the first prosecution of a logistics company in Australia under the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).

Strategic advice to international clients on customs regulations, valuations and dumping duties, including developing corporate structuring strategies to futureproof and mitigate any adverse impacts on client operations.

Advising logistics, engineering, and aeronautical companies on issues arising under the Australia – USA Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty and the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies.

Advising local and foreign corporations on issues relating to the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement.

Advising various logistics companies on sanctions issues arising under the Charter of the United Nations and the Autonomous Sanctions Act (Cth).

Industry Sector Expertise

Anti-dumping and Importation

International Trade

Regulatory Enforcements & Investigations

Restructuring and Insolvency