Customs

Our multidisciplinary team handles the custom advisory and litigation practice and offers tailor-made solutions on customs as well as allied laws relating to cross border transactions.

International trade and commerce plays a critical role in the success of an economy. With a consumer centric economy, India imports several goods and services to fulfil the domestic requirements.

The Government is also encouraging ‘Make in India’ projects where again significant inputs, parts and components are sourced from various foreign sources.

At the same time, Indian customs authorities have always played a vigilant role in regulating cross-border trade and this has given rise to multitude of laws, regulations and notifications to satisfy for import and export goods to and from India. This proves overwhelming for organisations to navigate their course often leading to mistakes and litigation.

Customs Advisory and Litigation at L&S

Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan (L&S) has a dedicated customs advisory and litigation practice. The attorneys have decades of experience in handling customs disputes for major organisations involved in global trade. The multidisciplinary team handling customs matters, which is also the biggest in India, consists of qualified advocates, charted accountants, economists, ex-government officials, trade experts, and professionals trained in business management.

The team has extensively worked on custom laws including all subordinate rules, regulations and issues relating to classification, valuation, interpretation of exemption notifications, prohibitions and restriction on cross-border trade, Free Trade Agreements.

The team advises with tailor made solutions by ensuring that the support goes beyond taking care of merely the issue at hand. We envision multiple possible scenarios and accordingly our solutions are aimed at mitigating long term risks. We strive to work towards holistic solutions factoring in not only Customs laws but also allied laws including SCOMET, Foreign Trade Policy, Food laws, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, The Legal Metrology Act etc.

The team believes in supporting with end-to-end solutions to legal challenges faced in cross border business transactions with emphasis on ensuring legal compliance with customs and other allied laws. Special focus is also laid on gaining from tax planning opportunities and incentives given through various Government policies.

The Customs Advisory Practice (CAP) of Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan provides end-to-end solutions to legal challenges faced in cross border business transactions with emphasis on ensuring legal compliance with customs and other allied laws while also gaining from tax planning opportunities and incentives given through various Government policies.

The range of services include:

Product classification under the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN)
Customs valuation and assistance in investigation of related party transactions by the Special Valuation Branch (SVB) with impact analysis and consistency under Transfer Pricing provisions.
Export restrictions including restrictions on dual use and/or defence related items under SCOMET
Trade facilitation and Authorized Economic Operator programme
Health check and review of compliance under Customs and other allied laws
Contract reviews for international / cross-border transactions
Foreign Trade Policy and Procedures
Export Incentives
Regional / Free Trade Agreements and compliances under Rules of Origin
Special Economic Zones / Free Trade Warehousing Zones and their impact on procurement strategy and supply chain
Customs Warehousing including in-bond processing
Trade Remedies including anti-dumping and countervailing duties
Special restrictions and compliance with the Food laws, Drugs & Cosmetics Act, Packaged Commodities Rules, etc. in the context of cross-border transactions
Assistance in filing and representing the company before the Customs Authority for Advance Ruling

Handling Litigation:

Support during departmental investigations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the Special Intelligence and Investigative Branch, etc.
Drafting replies, representations, statutory appeals, before various judicial forums
Appearance by our own attorneys before various forums, including Customs Appellate Tribunal, High Courts and Supreme Court
Drafting of writ petitions, civil appeals and special leave petitions before various High Courts and the Supreme Court of India

The Customs team at L&S has been advising clients operating in various sectors over the past 4 decades. Through our constant engagement with Customs Authorities and clients at multiple locations in India, we have created a niche in the following areas: