Eric is an EU and international trade lawyer with over 35 years' experience. He is a Consultant in the Competition, Regulation and Trade group.
Eric's long experience of working in the EU institutions, bringing and presenting cases in the EU courts and to the WTO and other international bodies, contributes an additional perspective to problem solving that is particularly valuable.
Eric works closely with the Herbert Smith Freehills' global network of offices, and his work focuses on WTO law and the EU's rules governing trade with non-EU countries, including the future relationship between the UK and the EU.
Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills Eric was a member of the European Commission's Legal Service between 1985 and 2016, where during part of the time he led the Trade Policy and WTO team. In that capacity, he routinely represented the European Commission in cases before the General Court and the European Court of Justice, and the European Union in WTO dispute settlement proceedings. He also participated in, and advised on, the negotiation of various international agreements involving the European Union.
Background
Eric is qualified as a solicitor-advocate in England and Wales, an advocaat in Belgium.
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
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Aquind Limited in connection with obtaining EU regulatory approvals and exemptions for the construction and operation of a direct electricity interconnector between the UK and France, and bringing several cases to the European General Court in this respect
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Representing several confidential sovereign governments in high-profile WTO dispute settlement proceedings
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Representing a confidential sovereign government in a trade dispute under a trade agreement with the EU
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EU international trade agreement partners on extending their trade agreements to the UK during a transition period after Brexit and on rolled-over trade agreements with the UK once it has an independent trade policy, including the impact of WTO rules and interaction of certain changes with most-favoured-nation (MFN)
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Advice and assistance to several public and private entities on the potential consequences of Brexit for the trade relationship between the EU and the UK, and the UK and third countries
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The European Commission in more than 50 cases before the General Court and the European Court of Justice related to EU international trade measures/policies*
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The European Union in more than 25 WTO dispute settlement proceedings related to the GATT, the GATS, the TBT Agreement, the SPS Agreement, the TRIPs Agreement, the Anti-dumping Agreement, the Anti-subsidy Agreement and the Safeguard Agreement*
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The European Union in the negotiation of various international agreements, such as the Cancun (2003) and Hong Kong (2005) WTO Ministerial Conferences, the Association Agreements with several central and eastern-European countries and the UNFCCC Conferences of the Parties.*
*Experience prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
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