James E. Prince, Principal
JD, American University, Washington College of Law
BA, Appalachian State University

Christopher G. Nixon, Of Counsel
JD, Appalachian School of Law
BA, Appalachian State University

Albert Wilson, Of Counsel
MBA, Finance, American University, Kogod School of Business
JD, American University, Washington College of Law
DEJEI, (French Diploma in International Law) Nanterre, France
BA, French, The Ohio State University

James Prince, Principal

James Prince’s practice focuses on representing clients contending with customs law and export trade regulation matters. Mr. Prince has successfully represented numerous clients against million dollar penalties and damages claims asserted by Customs and Border Protection, assisted clients in opening FTZ subzones in order to reduce their duty exposure, and worked with clients to secure Tier II and Tier III C-TPAT status. His practice also covers all aspects of regulations that impact importation into the United States, including EPA TSCA requirements, Lacey Act implications, and Fish and Wildlife licensing and inspection requirements.

Mr. Prince's experience also includes working with clients to develop export compliance programs to manage the impact of export controls and U.S. extra-territorial regulations. His representation covers all aspects of export compliance, including response to audit requests, civil enforcement proceedings and global management of export regulations.

Mr. Prince represents various companies and trade associations whose imports and exports are regulated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), as well as other federal agencies.

Mr. Prince's experience covers a wide range of commercial and enforcement import laws and policies, which include duty preference programs; tariff classification; valuation; entry procedures; customs brokerage; country of origin marking; binding rulings; audits; various CBP counter-terrorism initiatives (e.g., the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, Container Security Initiative, and Import Self-Assessment Program); export control and sanctions; voluntary disclosures; seizures and forfeitures; foreign-trade zones; and civil and criminal penalties. Mr. Prince also advises industrial and high technology exporters on U.S. export controls, trade embargoes, economic sanctions, anti-boycott regulations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Prior to establishing Prince Law Group, PLLC, Mr. Prince worked in the international trade practice group at a major New York based law firm. Mr. Prince also worked with the Appalachian International Business Center, where he assisted area North Carolina manufacturing operations in the development of strategies for entry into the international trade market, including identifying possible trading partners, assisting in the development of bi-lateral joint-venture opportunities, and securing foreign manufacturers to provide raw and sub-assembled product to domestic manufacturers.

Mr. Prince is a frequent speaker on international trade issues, and regularly makes presentations on NAFTA and C-TPAT-specific matters.
 
Representative Experience:
Represented a multinational chemical company in a customs liquidated damages proceeding and successfully mitigated damages from over $24,000,000 to less than $100,000.

Assisted in the representation of the Canadian fur industry in restructuring its U.S. imports in order to comply with the new Fish and Wildlife Service's import licensing and inspection regulations.

Customs counsel to a global petroleum company and successfully challenged U.S. Customs and Border Protection's denial of preference claims on five years of petroleum imports.

Successfully represented Planar Systems, Inc., against U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s classification of certain LCDs, resulting in a duty-refund of almost half a million dollars.

Member of an export compliance team that represented a global pump and valve manufacturer in submitting a global voluntary self disclosure related to product and technology export violations.
 
Honors and Awards:
William W. Scott Pro Bono Award, 2007
 
Pro Bono:
Represented several clients before the Court of International Trade in Trade Adjustment Assistance cases.

Successfully obtained asylum for a Bolivian refugee who sought refuge from persecution due to his lifestyle.

Represented tenant in Civil Court against eviction which resulted in tenant being refunded all rent paid for the past year due to landlord's failure to provide a safe and habitable environment.

Represented tenant against eviction in civil court by arguing landlord's failure to provide safe and habitable environment which resulted in a refund to tenant of all rents paid for entire past year.
 
Community Activities:
Virtual Enterprise, Inc., Board of Directors
Charlotte Mecklenburg School Systems, Leadership Committee
 
Client Advisories:
"Customs Valuation Proposal Seeks to Increase Duties on Imports," January 25, 2008
 
Speaking Engagements:
"Protecting Your Business Globally," Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association Management Forum, Bonita Springs, FL, March 31, 2007.

"Navigating the Trade Triangle: Importer's Master Class in Maximizing the Benefits and Duty Savings Available Under NAFTA" (panelist with John Brew), Marcus Evans' Import Compliance Forum, San Francisco, CA, December 7, 2005.
 
Bar Admissions:
District of Columbia, 2003
New York, 2003
North Carolina, 2008
 
Courts:
Court of International Trade
 
Education:
American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 2002
Appalachian State University, B.A., 1997

Memberships and Associations:
Customs and International Trade Bar Association
New York State Bar
North Carolina State Bar
The District of Columbia Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
Mecklenburg County Bar
American Bar Association
American Association of Exporters and Importers