Global law firm Baker McKenzie has added Chandri Navarro as Senior Counsel to its North America International Commercial & Trade Practice in Washington, DC. She joins from another global law firm where she was a partner for nearly 20 years.
Chandri works with companies, multinationals, trade associations, and governments on customs and trade law and policy, trade compliance matters, free trade negotiations, litigation, and legislation. She has advised clients on customs and trade issues in many different countries and before foreign trade and customs agencies, including the US Customs and Border Protection, Office of the US Trade Representative, Department of Commerce, US Congress, and the Court of International Trade. She also helps companies create effective trade compliance programs and find business opportunities in their import/export transactions around the world.
"Chandri is an established and successful trade and customs lawyer who will greatly enhance our practice," said Will Woods, Chair of the North America International Commercial & Trade Practice Group. "Her experience in customs, a highly specialized area of law, will be especially valuable as we see increased demand from clients who are focused on supply chain restructuring, geopolitical risk mitigation, nearshoring, forced labor issues and more."
"We are thrilled to welcome Chandri to the Firm and to our office," added Maurice Bellan, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie's Washington, DC, office. "The depth of experience she brings, especially with niche customs issues, is invaluable to our clients across the world who turn to us for their most complex trade issues."
Baker McKenzie’s North America International Commercial & Trade Practice Group advises clients on critical cross-border legal issues impacting global business strategy. With lawyers located across the United States, Canada and Mexico, this cross-disciplinary, multicultural and multilingual team helps clients to optimize global business opportunities and address strategic, operational and compliance challenges. Our customs lawyers advise multinational companies on complex customs and VAT matters, customs compliance programs, audits, duty savings programs, the intersection of customs and transfer pricing, customs counselling and enforcement/litigation.
"I look forward to expanding my practice across Baker McKenzie's well-established international platform, including its notable presence in Latin America," said Chandri. "And I am excited to work with colleagues across offices to contribute to the growth of the Firm's trade practice, including through mentoring and training more junior lawyers on the team."
Chandri received her BA from William & Mary and her JD from American University Washington College of Law. She is fluent in English, Spanish and French.