Louis Gross, LLB
Gross & Becroft Lawyers
Level 17
390 St Kilda Road
Melbourne Vic 3004
Australia
Ph: +61 3 9866 5666
Fax: +613 9866 5644
info@grossbecroft.com.au
Louis Gross has been a Barrister and Solicitor for over 30 years having been admitted to practise in 1971. In 1984 he founded the practice and throughout the years has had extensive experience and involvement in Australian Customs and Trade Law.
He has regularly appeared in the AAT and the Federal Court as an advocate for importers and local manufacturers and has been involved in many of the leading cases on Australian Customs and Trade Law. These include acting:
- For Visy Industries in a successful defence of an Administrative Penalty in the only Federal Court case on this issue;
- In the first and key decision given on the Tariff Concession Scheme, as well as in many subsequent decisions;
- For Kodak Australia in the test case concerning the interpretation of a tariff concession for photographic paper, which was ultimately decided in the High Court of Australia in Kodak's favour.
- For an importer in a Full Federal Court Appeal successfully attacking a Customs Classification decision on evaporators and condensers for air-conditioners;
- To initiate long-term structured settlement arrangements for resolving prosecution and fraud cases.
- For Nike Australia in relation to Customs audit and compliance matters and other commercial issues;
- For Pacific Brands and Coles Myer in relation to a substantial tariff concession dispute in respect of bicycles.
- For Visy Industries and other clients in successful applications to Ausindustry for Item 57 and Item 71 Policy By-Laws.
- For several clients recently in excise matters relating to alcohol, petroleum and biodiesel.
- For Mitsubishi Industries in relation to a tariff classification dispute in respect of air conditioning components.
- For Dongwha Timbers to obtain concessional entry for major capital equipment for a log processing and saw mill.
He is a recent past Chairman of the Customs and International Transactions Committee of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. The Law Council of Australia is Australia's peak legal body that represents the Australian legal profession and makes representations to government regarding legal issues.
He frequently acts as a lecturer and speaker to Customs Brokers and Students completing accreditation courses.
Has acted as legal advisor for the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia and for the International Trade Council of the Chamber of Manufacturers.
He has authored the Case Notes on AAT Decisions for Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Australia. He is also the co-author of the section on Tariff Classification in the CCH looseleaf service Australian Customs Law and Practice.
He has and continues to provide advice to many leading Australian and multinational companies, as well Customs broker firms on issues of Customs and Excise Law and related matters.