 Bennett Jones Education University of Toronto, BA (Honours) International Relations, 2007, with distinction Queen's University, JD, 2012 Bar Admissions Ontario, 2013 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. Overview 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 tariffs, bilateral and regional free trade agreements, WTO and treaty 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 3 by Chambers Global for 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 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 40 and under 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. Experience • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Limited, in successfully obtaining a regional exclusion in an anti-dumping and countervailing injury inquiry before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal concerning wind towers originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China • Volkswagen AG and its subsidiary PowerCo SE, in its selection process for development of a $7B flagship "gigafactory" North American EV battery manufacturing facility • G-III Apparel Canada, in its successful appeal to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal concerning a precedent-setting Canada Border Services Agency decision regarding the requirements of Canadian subsidiaries for qualification as purchasers of goods for export to Canada • A Canadian manufacturer, in an independent internal investigation into violations of Iran economic sanctions, voluntary disclosures to Canadian and U.S. authorities, and implementation of internal compliance controls and training in the context of an acquisition by a U.S. multinational corporation • Multinational Oil & Gas Services companies, on navigating tightened economic sanctions on energy trade and investments in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine after the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 • Scentsy Canada Enterprises, a scented home products direct sales company, in its successful appeal to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal of a decision by the Canada Border Services Agency concerning the appraisal methodology to calculate the value of duty of imported goods in related party transactions • Numerous international luxury goods brands, in Canada Border Services Agency trade verifications relating to customs valuation, tariff classification, and origin issues, and appealing customs decisions • A multinational agri-food company, in implementing internal policies, procedures and controls for export controls and economic sanctions compliance • A national defence contractor, in a voluntary disclosure to the Controlled Goods Directorate, the Export Controls Division of Global Affairs Canada, and Canada Border Services Agency of exports of controlled military goods without required export permits • Amalgamated Dairies, Atlantic Canada's most diverse dairy co-operative, in an application for judicial review to the Federal Court (Trial Division) of a Canada Border Services Agency decision denying duty relief for imported butter • A Canadian technology company, in an internal investigation into bribery and fraud allegations by a whistleblower at an Asian subsidiary • Fine Home Limited, Jiashan Foamtech Furniture, and Dongguan Advantech Polyurethane Foam Products in an expedited review of exporter-specific normal values, export prices and subsidy amounts related to Canadian anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Upholstered Domestic Seating • Chateau d'Ax USA, Eterno Co., and Zhe Jiang Shengli Furniture in an expedited review of exporter-specific normal values, export prices and subsidy amounts related to Canadian anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Upholstered Domestic Seating • The Retail Council of Canada, and under its umbrella its membership of thousands of Canadian retailers, in its defence against an inquiry by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal alleging injurious dumping of upholstered domestic seating • Asante Gold Corporation in its US$225-Million share purchase agreement with Kinross Gold Corporation to acquire Kinross’ 90% interest in the Chirano Gold Mine • The Watermill Group, in its acquisition of Weston Forest Products Inc., a leading distributor and remanufacturer of softwood and hardwood lumber and specialty panel products across North America • Stone Canyon Industries Holdings and Kissner Group Holdings, as Canadian counsel, in their US$3.2 billion acquisition of K+S Aktiengesellschaft's North and South American salt business, including Morton Salt and Windsor Salt • Cenovus Energy Inc., in its $23.6-billion proposed acquisition of Husky Energy Inc • Lithion Power Group, in its acquisition of Aved Electronics • Capvest Partners in its acquisition of Recochem, a Quebec based manufacturer of aftermarket transportation and household fluids • Rio Tinto Alcan, Rio Tinto Procurement Singapore, Sica New Materials (Thailand) Inc., and the Government of Thailand, CBSA investigation and CITT inquiry into dumping/subsidization and injury relating to silicon metal imported from Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Norway, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and Russia, and related judicial review proceedings before the Federal Court of Appeal • Byelorussian Steel Works (BMZ), Bel Kap Steel LLC, the Government of the Republic of Belarus, Ferrostaal Steel GmbH, and Shiu Wing Steel Limited, Canada Border Services Agency investigation and re-investigation into dumping relating to certain steel reinforcing bar (rebar) imported from the Republic of Belarus, including an investigation into the market economy status of the Belarusian rebar industry • Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metals Corp. and Sumitomo Corporation, Canada Border Services Agency and Canadian International Trade Tribunal investigations into dumping and injury relating to large diameter line pipe imported from Japan • Turkish Steel Exporters Association, Canadian International Trade Tribunal inquiry into dumping and subsidization of oil country tubular goods imported from Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam • Frugi Venta (the Dutch Fruit and Vegetables Trade Association), Canada Border Services Agency expiry review in relation to anti-dumping duties on greenhouse bell peppers imported from the Netherlands • TriWest in its indirect investment through its affiliates of a majority equity interest in Alta West Mortgage Capital • G2S2 Capital, under its banner Armco Alberta, in its acquisition of Bow Valley Square, an iconic four-tower, LEED Platinum-certified office complex in the heart of downtown Calgary • Park Lawn Corporation, a funeral, cremation and cemetery provider, in its C$1.2-billion going private transaction involving Viridian Acquisition |