Jessica Horwitz is an advocate and business advisor for Canadian and international clients on complex and high-stakes matters relating to international trade, customs, import and export regulation and economic sanctions.
Jessica works with clients across a broad range of industries to creatively solve problems and resolve disputes concerning imports, exports and international investments. She has expertise in Canadian customs law, trade remedies (anti-dumping and countervailing duties and safeguard measures), cross-border excise taxes (GST/HST) and duties, bilateral and regional free trade agreements and WTO law, Canadian product regulation and labelling, export controlled goods and technology, national defence contracting and the Controlled Goods Program, Canadian economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and anti-corruption laws, forced labour compliance and supply chain integrity, and other cross-border issues.
Jessica appears regularly before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) and the Federal Courts in customs appeals and trade remedy proceedings, and represents clients in trade verifications and enforcement matters involving the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other domestic and foreign regulatory and law enforcement agencies. She helps businesses to design and implement effective trade compliance programs and internal controls, and to conduct risk assessments, reviews and investigations related to trade, sanctions and anti-corruption compliance.
Jessica is ranked as Band 4 by Chambers Global in the area of International Trade/WTO Law, a Key Lawyer in International Trade by Legal 500 Canada, a Lexpert Leading Lawyer 'Repeatedly Recommended' for Commodity Tax/Customs and for International Trade Regulation, and One to Watch in International Trade and Finance Law by Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2024, Jessica received the Lexpert Rising Star Award honouring leading lawyers under 40 in Canada. She is an active member of legal organizations including the Canadian Bar Association and Ontario Bar Association International Law Sections, the American Bar Association Section of International Law and the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, the Organization of Women in International Trade, and the Inter-American Bar Association. Jessica is on the board of directors of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Toronto chapter, and I.E. Canada (the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters). She is also a past chair of the OBA International Law Section and a past co-chair of the ABA Section of International Law International Trade Committee and International Transportation Committee. Jessica is the recipient of an Arbor Award from the University of Toronto, the highest honour granted by the university to its volunteers.
Jessica is fluent in English and has working proficiency in French and Spanish.
Bennett Jones