Leonard is a partner in the firm’s Maritime and International Trade Practice Groups.
Leonard spent twelve years in the logistics industry between college and law school. During that time, he gained invaluable commercial experience while overseeing the movement of hundreds of containers per week between the United States and Europe, Africa, and Asia. Leonard’s commercial background has complemented his legal skills in the representation of clients from around the world. His commercial and legal experience has enabled him to better assist clients in export and import compliance matters involving the U.S. Customs & Border Protection, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Leonard has spent considerable time counseling clients on export and import compliance planning and assisting clients in enforcement proceedings with various federal agencies.
Leonard received his undergraduate degree from the Victoria University of Manchester, England where he graduated, with honors. He received his law degree from New York University School of Law.
Experience
Representative Experience
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Represent multi-national energy companies in a suit at the Court of International Trade relating to the NAFTA-eligibility of natural gas entering the United States via pipeline.
- Represented European corporation in enforcement proceeding commenced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Mitigated fine, penalty and repayment of duty arising out of alleged misclassification from $2,100,000 to zero after establishing that client used reasonable care in its Customs activities.
- Represented European corporation in suit commenced against U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Obtained judgment at Court of International Trade upholding client's view of the proper classification of the product and obtained a refund in excess of $1,000,000.
- Represented foreign manufacturer and advised appropriate corporate structure for foreign manufacturing and distribution subsidiary to maximize compliance with U.S. Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Customs regulations.
- Represented foreign corporation in making voluntary prior disclosure to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Disclosure involved significant breach of U.S. security regulations and use of voluntary disclosure resulted in a warning letter but no fine or penalty.
- Represented various corporations in obtaining rulings on proper classification, valuation and marking of products imported into the United States.
Bureau of Industry & Security
- Represented multi-national pharmaceutical manufacturer in providing advice with regard to U.S. sanctions and export license regulations.
- Represented U.S. exporters in voluntary disclosure proceedings involving the exportation of dual-use items without the appropriate export licenses.
U.S. State Department
- Represented U.S. software and solutions provider in identifying appropriate control mechanisms when dealing with Department of Defense contracts and obtaining when necessary appropriate Technical Assistance Agreements from U.S. State Department.
- Represented foreign purchaser of U.S. based assets that required approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
Office of Foreign Assets Control
- Advised numerous foreign and domestic clients on matters involving trade with Cuba, North Korea, Libya, and Iraq.
Federal Maritime Commission
- Represented logistics companies in enforcement proceedings and administrative litigation.
- Provided advice and guidance to foreign-flag vessel operating common carrier participating in conferences, vessel-sharing agreements and/or discussion agreements.
- Represented foreign-flag vessel operating common carrier in investigation conducted by Federal Maritime Commission in connection with its participation in a vessel-sharing agreement.
- Represented vessel operating common carrier in drafting and negotiating pooling and consolidation agreements for containers and chassis.
Litigation
- Federal District Court and Court of Appeals litigation on behalf of transportation companies and logistics providers.
Presentations
- Anatomy of a Shipment," Hampton Roads Global Business Conference, September 2014
- Navigating the Seas of International Trade: Contract and Compliance Issues for the Non-Trade Lawyer," Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association CLE, October 2013
- “Import Compliance: Importer Security Filing Penalty Mitigation Guidelines,” Hampton Roads Global Business Conference, September 2009.
- “Import Product Classification: General Introduction,” Virginia Conference on World Trade, October 2006.
- “Export Compliance in the Post 9/11 World.” Virginia Conference on World Trade, October 2005.
- “Import Product Classification,” Virginia Conference on World Trade, October 2004 E-Commerce For Freight Transportation Conferences.
E-Commerce for Freight Transportation Conferences
- Brussels, Belgium, July 2003.
- San Francisco, California, July 2002.
- Singapore, September 2001.
- Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2001.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 2000.
- Singapore, September, 2000.
- Las Vegas, Nevada, June 2000.
- Barcelona, Spain, November, 1999.
National Industrial Transportation League: Shipping Act Seminars
- San Antonio, Texas, November 1999.
- Dallas, Texas, February 1999.
- Los Angeles, California, February 1999.
Published Work
- Brief for Amicus Curiae Charleston Naval Complex Redevelopment Authority in Support of Respondent.
- Journal of Commerce, August 25, 1997 (Will the FMC Investigate Panama Over its Contract with Port Operator?).
- Journal of Commerce, January 21, 1999 (NVOCCS Left at the Station).
- Journal of Commerce, February 17, 1999 (Bundling Unaffiliated Shippers).
- Journal of Commerce, November 22, 1999 (Middle Ground on Carrier Antitrust Immunity).
- Journal of Commerce, April 13, 2000 (Industry Needs to See FMC as Neutral).