Clearing the Customs hurdle

About Steve Zelman

Steve Zelman is a customs attorney and trade regulation consultant who specializes in assisting importers and others dealing with US Customs and other government agencies that regulate imported merchandise.

Curriculum Vitae

Martindale Hubble AV (highest) rated

Education:

  • Union College, Schenectady, New York
    Degree: Bachelor of Arts, with honors, Political Science, 1969
  • The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
    Degree: Juris Doctor, with honors, 1973

Bar Admissions:

  • United States Court of International Trade (1981)
  • Supreme Court of the State of New York (1974)
  • United States District Courts of New York (1978)
  • District of Columbia Court of Appeals (1986)

Synopsis of Experience:

Legal experience has centered on advising corporations of their obligations as importers and representing them before those federal agencies which regulate in international trade, and the representation of business interests before the federal courts and, contract and copyright matters.

1974-1989:

Siegel, Mandell & Davidson
One Whitehall Street
New York, New York 10004.

Commenced as junior associate, rose to senior partner of this fifteen-attorney firm. Developed import programs, record keeping systems and controls over international transactions for corporate clients; conducted due diligence reviews for corporations to insure compliance with federal laws and regulations; established procedures for substantiating claims for full and partial duty exemptions and duty refunds under various international trade agreements and under the Customs laws; rendered advice and sought Customs’ rulings regarding the classification, valuation and quota categories applicable to clients’ merchandise; negotiated settlements of fraud and other penalty claims asserted by the Customs Service; dealt extensively with Customs= auditors and agents during all phases of investigative and compliance audits and investigations; negotiated marketing agreements and consent orders with the FTC and FDA; represented clients before the International Trade Commission and International Trade Administration in antidumping proceedings.

1989-Present:

Stephen M. Zelman, Esq.
888 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10106.

I continue with to the same activities as described above. In addition, I have established companies as trade partners with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection under the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and developed a federal court practice involving copyright litigation.

Publications:

Published articles on international trade in

  • Journal of European Business
  • Global Trade & Transportation
  • America’s Textile International

Services

What We Charge

Legal costs are based on the complexity of the matter. We frequently work on the basis of a retainer against time, with time documented to the tenth of the hour. Based on our experience, we can give you a reasonable estimate of the total you can expect—and we never exceed estimates without prior agreement that the additional expenditure is necessary.

We do take on projects for a flat fee, on a contingent fee basis, on the basis of results achieved, and on hybrids of these fee structures. We cannot, of course, quote a fee without knowing the nature of the problem. Still, our knowledge of the field will enable us to avoid leaving you with unexpected legal fees.

Disbursements must be in addition to our fee but we never incur significant disbursements without the client’s prior approval.

This web site contains general information could well be inapplicable to your situation. It should not be used except to identify areas that are of concern to you. We welcome you to contact us by telephone or e-mail for specific advice as to your import program.