Goltsblat BLP

Vladimir Tchikine, Partner, Customs and International Trade/Auto Industry

Vladimir specialises in the corporate, exchange, customs and indirect tax aspects of business law. He advises on a broad range of customs regulatory issues, including customs value assessment and confirmation; documentary evidence of origin of goods; classification of goods; identification of the most advantageous customs treatment for imports and exports and on various foreign exchange regulation matters.

Vladimir possesses extensive experience of developing and providing legal support for industrial equipment imports into Russia; identification of customs risks stemming from import and export of goods. He also provides practical assistance with drafting the documents required for completion of customs formalities, including foreign trade contracts and commercial and accompanying documents.

He has positive experience of working with the customs authorities, including the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, in relation to the application of benefits to foreign investors and the resolution of disputes relating to excessive payment of customs duties and release from those duties.

He possesses extensive experience of successfully appealing against actions and decisions of the customs and foreign exchange control authorities both in courts and through administrative bodies.

Vladimir is one of several Russian lawyers having experience of acting for clients in special safeguard and anti-dumping investigations in both Russia and the Customs Union.

Goltsblat BLP is a member of the Subcommittee for Strategic Innovations in the Auto Industry established as part of the Russian CCI Committee for Entrepreneurship in the Auto Industry.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2014 highly recommends Vladimir Tchikine: ‘combines business acumen with strong legal knowledge’.
Vladimir was named The Lawyer of the Year in the field of Customs and Excise Law by Best Lawyers 2014.

Track Record
Listed below are some of the projects that Vladimir has led or participated in:

• Defended international chemical companies in court in challenging preliminary BTIs relating to classification of imported goods.
• Defended one of the major home appliances manufacturers in court against the customs authorities refusing to refund excessively paid customs duties and security of such duty payments. It was proved that absence of confirmation of the imported goods purpose on the date of importation would not deprive the declarant of the right to have the excess customs duties refunded.
• Advised and acted for a leading glass company and an electrical equipment manufacturer in relation to importation and certification of equipment.
• Advised and acted for one of the major international producers of agricultural machinery in a project relating to manufacturing agricultural machinery in Russia.
• Acted for a major European food producer in customs and court disputes to appeal against the customs authorities’ actions for enforcement of customs payments; ensured refunding excessively charged duties.
• Successfully handled a litigation by the Russian arm of a major international oil services company against customs authority’s classification decisions on classifying goods and upwardly assessing customs payments; the court ruling on this case appeared as a welcome precedent for many foreign trade companies importing similar goods.

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