Overview
Raminta Dereskeviciute focuses her practice on product compliance and trade regulation (sanctions and export controls). She has significant experience in EU chemical control (REACH), EU product safety and liability, EU regulatory law and frequently represents clients before the European Chemicals Agency Board of Appeal. Raminta also advises businesses on the implications Brexit will have in relation to a range of regulatory compliance issues.
Raminta counsels clients on the EU and the UK sanctions regimes and export controls, including in higher risk jurisdictions such as Russia and Iran. Her experience covers the review and design of compliance programs, including giving training to client teams on controlled goods, prohibited jurisdictions, persons and activities. Raminta assists companies in liaising with regulators when assessing whether their activities are in breach of EU sanctions regimes, or whether authorisations / licenses from the national authorities are appropriate. Raminta has participated as a chair and speaker on sanctions related panels at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime.
Raminta has a peerless grasp of EU chemicals, metals and mining policy, including conflict minerals legislation and the issues surrounding ethical supply chain management for these industries. She assists manufacturers, importers and traders in understanding and assessing the impact of EU environmental legislation (REACH, CLP, GHS, WFD, Seveso III, RoHS, WEEE and others) on their product portfolios, audits their compliance with EU legislation on hazardous chemicals and represents companies in disputes with the European Chemical Agency. Raminta featured in Chemical Watch, Bloomberg Environment and numerous other publications discussing EU chemicals policy, industry compliance and Member State enforcement as well as implications that Brexit will have on various stakeholders. She is a contributor to the most comprehensive book published on REACH, “Best Practice Guide to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006”, by Beck/Hart.
Raminta has devised compliance and crisis management programs for global industrial products manufacturers as well as cosmetics, medical devices, food and consumer electronics manufacturers, including novelty products. She has experience of product compliance issues at all levels of the supply chain (from obligations when the product is placed on the market to producer liability, end-of-life issues as well as the consumer rights protection). Raminta has advised on matters ranging from CE marking, tariff classification, packaging, labelling, authorisation/registration, to recall or withdrawal obligations due to health and safety risks posed by defective products.
Results
- Representing Hempel Metallurgical GmbH in the first ever data-sharing dispute before ECHA Board of Appeal*
- Representing Climax Molybdenum B.V. and members of Molybdenum Consortium before ECHA Board of Appeal in a dispute involving dossier compliance check and validity of an OECD approved pre-natal developmental toxicity study*
- Representing Emerald Kalama Chemical B.V., Ineos Chloro Toluenes Belgium NV and Lanxess Deutschland GmbH in disputes with ECHA on dossier compliance, dossier evaluation, read-across justification and with respect to the right to be heard*
- Representing Celanese Chemicals Europe GmbH in a dispute with ECHA on dossier compliance and read-across strategy*
- Obtaining UK HMRC favorable decision resulting in 0% import tariff regarding classification of ingredients present in adult stem cell nutrition products for humans*
- Successfully applying for Binding Tariff Information decision resulting in 0% import tariff on behalf of the world’s leading metals producer and supplier*
- Representing US manufacturer of consumer electronics in investigations by German and Belgian authorities on product compliance, particularly with respect to product labelling*
- Designing global sanctions compliance program for one of the largest cement companies in the world and advising on day-to-day trade compliance*
- Advising a leading producer of forged and cast engineered products for the worldwide steel and aluminum industries on a major transaction involving EU sanctioned jurisdiction, liaising with EU DG Trade and Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs in relation to enforcement and interpretation of the relevant EU sanctions regulation*
- Team member for the Commission REACH Implementation Project (RIP) 3.4 on Data sharing and Consortia*
- Advising international trade industry association on amendments to draft provisions for the Implementing Regulation on joint submission of data and data-sharing in accordance with REACH*
- Advising a major US nonprofit environmental advocacy group on EU fisheries policy reform*
- Advising an international medical device company on potential product recall across Europe due to hazardous substances present in a medical device*
- Advising a global heating controls manufacturer on the applicability of exemptions under EU legislation on persistent organic pollutants and potential product recall*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott
Recognitions
- Legal 500 UK, Real Estate (Environment), 2020
- Legal 500 Belgium, Customs, Trade, WTO and Anti-Dumping Practice, 2015-2016
Community
- Member of Lithuanian Bar Association and the Lithuanian Lawyer’s Association
- Former President and Board Member of Lithuanian City of London Club
- Fulbright Scholar
- Alumni Member of the Institute of International Economic Law (IIEL) at Georgetown Law Centre
- Member of ASSIST Alumni worldwide
- Board Member, International Debate Education Association
Credentials
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 2006
Law University of Lithuania (Mykolas Romeris), LL.B., 2005
Admissions
England & Wales
Lithuania
Languages
English
Lithuanian
Russian
