A B O U T

PROFILE

My profile is here on LinkedIn. I co-founded Huffine Chung LLP in 2014. We are business lawyers representing clients in international commercial matters, intellectual property, regulatory matters, employment and labor law, commercial real estate, business succession and estate planning. Our practice serves clients in a broad range of industries with significant coverage in matters involving international trade and transportation.

Prior to practicing law, I worked in trade finance and export agency representing commercial parties in foreign markets. Upon being admitted to the California Bar in 1997, I joined one of the leading international trade law firms in Los Angeles where I practiced exclusively in international trade, customs law, transportation, and maritime law.  I started my own firm in 2001 and have remained active in private practice to this day.

I am admitted to practice in the following courts and jurisdictions:
- California
- United States Court of International Trade
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States District Court, Northern District of California
- United States District Court, Southern District of California

I advise clients in a wide range of legal subject matter that involves international trade, i.e., the purchasing, selling, and transportation of goods across national borders, and government controls and tariffs incident to moving goods from one sovereign nation into another. These types of cases and scenarios are a significant part of my practice. 

I represent importers, consignees, and brokers before U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in cases involving:
- Customs seizures, fines, penalties, and forfeitures of goods and currency 
- Tariff classification issues
- Protests
- Binding ruling requests
- Duty drawback claims
- Licensing of bonded facilities in international transportation

On the transportation side, I represent shippers, consignees, NVOCC/OTI carriers, logistics firms, trucking and warehousing companies, and bonded facilities in cargo claims, carrier lien enforcement and defense, maritime claims under the COGSA, and regulatory/penalty cases before the Federal Maritime Commission.

Education:
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (JD, 1996)
- Cornell Law School, Paris Institute (Cert., Int’l. and Comp. Law, 1995)
- University of California, Los Angeles (BA, 1992) 

Peer Reviewed:  2017-2018 "Top Attorneys" Legal Experts Chosen by Their Peers, San Gabriel Valley, California (Pasadena Magazine)

Other Service Experience
Special Master, State Bar of California (2005-2009)
Judge, Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition, NAPABA Foundation (2005)
Judicial Extern, Hon. Lisa Hill Fenning, United States Bankruptcy Court (1995-1996)
Criminal Law Extern, Los Angeles City Attorney, Special Operations, Consumer Protection (1995)

Contact Information:
Tel. (213) 290-2324 *Calls are screened, leave a message for call-back.
Email/DM via Social Media: www.linkedin.com/in/melvinchung