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Maritime, trade and transportation touch on practically every aspect of our lives. Taken together, they are the driving industry in not only Louisiana, but across the country and around the world. Because this affects every business in one form or another, I strive to help clients understand and navigate the complex statutes and regulations governing this industry, and its ever-changing global landscape.

Primary Practice:

Cole Callihan’s practice focuses primarily on regulatory affairs, with an emphasis on customs and international trade. He regularly counsels and represents clients on matters before the Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Department of Transportation (DOT), Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

Cole serves as regulatory and compliance counsel for importers and exporters, customs brokers, and logistics providers.  He advises and represents clients on matters involving HTS classifications, protests and prior disclosures, Sections 232 and 301 tariffs, country of origin, tariff mitigation and engineering, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), sanctions, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, preferential tariff programs, foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses.

In his maritime practice, Cole counsels clients on issues relating to the Jones Act and Coastwise trade and has obtained favorable rulings from CBP. Cole also assists clients on foreign worker exemptions on the outer continental shelf, B-1 (OCS) visas, and foreign and domestic vessel documentation.

Applying his supply chain knowledge, Cole assists clients with drafting and negotiating ocean carrier service contracts, freight forwarding and broker agreements, motor carrier agreements, marine terminal operating agreements, supply agreements, and packaging and warehouse agreements. 

Representative highlights include:

  • Serve as outside international trade and logistics counsel for Fortune 500 Company.
  • Obtained favorable HTS classification determination through Prior Disclosure on behalf of large-scale importer of disinfectants, saving the company potential back pay and penalties of over $10 million in regular duties and Section 301 tariffs.
  • Prepared anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance policy and program for international medical device company. 
  • Advised foreign company on International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) jurisdiction over its proposed acquisition of a domestic manufacturer.
  • Performed supply chain audit and applicability review under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), obtaining detention release of chemical desiccants.
  • Successfully petitioned CBP for 80% mitigation of over $2 million in penalties for violations of entry documentation requirements on behalf of shipping services provider.
  • Intersected with CBP over wood packaging material (WPM) violations, achieving the release of 15 containers of manufacturing equipment vital to a multi-million dollar economic development project.
  • Performed classification analysis resulting in favorable CBP ruling and subsequent protest approval on behalf of a material trading company for its German importation of a chemical absorbent, resulting in a free rate of duty, saving the company over $100k annually.
  • Led and coordinated regulatory effort for international telecommunications manufacturer on rulemaking and waivers for the Build America, Buy America (BABA) program.
“ The practice of law provides me the wonderful opportunity to work with a variety of industries and individuals, all with unique legal problems. It is with this eagerness and enthusiasm that I approach each legal issue, no matter how large or small. ”

Education

  • Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, J.D., 2011
  • Louisiana State University, B.S., 2002

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Court Admissions

  • United States Court of International Trade
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Areas of Practice

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO), Board Member
  • Customs and International Trade Bar Association
  • Raintree Children and Family Services, Associate Board Member
  • World Trade Center of New Orleans, Transportation Committee
  • Conference of Freight Counsel, Member

Related Knowledge

News

International Compliance Digest

News Alerts and Published Articles