BIO

Political Writing and Commentary (Check out Michelle's Blog Articles at http://libertyswatchdogs.blogspot.com/) Statement of Practice Summary The Law Offices of Michelle Rodenborn has provided quality legal services to the international trade community for the past 30 years. The firm's clientele is primarily made up of U.S. importers across a wide spectrum of industries, from mass retailers to start up businesses, and also includes foreign shippers, U.S. exporters, freight forwarders and consolidators, and licensed U.S. customs brokers. The firm's practice is primarily concentrated on assisting clients with administrative claims and litigation brought by and against the government (Customs and Border Protection), in connection with compliance with trade statutes and customs laws and regulations, and other federal agencies' regulations on international trade. Practice Areas Include: Customs Law, International Trade Law, Import and Export Law; Seizures and Forfeitures; Seizures of Monetary Instruments; Customs Civil Penalties; Voluntary Disclosures; Liquidated Damages Claims; Tariff Classification and Valuation of Goods; Country of Origin Determinations; Recordkeeping Compliance; Marking and Labeling Requirements; Customs Audits, including Focused-Assessment Program (FAP) Audits; Free Trade Agreements including NAFTA and CAFTA; Special Trade Programs for developing countries including GSP, Mexican Special Regime, U.S. Goods Returned; Foreign Trade Zones; Other Federal Agencies including FDA, FCC, Fish & Wildlife, Dept. of Agriculture, Foreign Assets Control; Customs Broker Licensing Compliance and Revocation Proceedings; C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) applications and verification audits. Education: University of Iowa, J.D., 1973, University of Iowa, B.A., 1970 Admitted: 1974, California; U.S. District Court, Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Bar Associations: Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Executive Committee, International Law Section, 1993'; Member, 1987' and Chair, 1988-1990, Customs Law Committee); State Bar of California (Member, International Law Section, 1987'). Other Experience & Professional Associations: Member, Iowa Law Review, 1971-1972; Superior Court Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles County, 1980-1983; Customs Broker's License,1985; Organization of Women in International Trade (Founder and Past President, 1990-1991); Women in International Trade, Los Angeles, (Founder and Past President, 1985-1986, Member, 1985'); Foreign Trade Association of Southern California, (Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2006, and Treasurer, 2006); American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI), 1997').