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LETTER OF CREDIT |
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LETTER OF CREDIT |
Service Packages:
- Advantages:
All times used in a specific package are included, covering even unforeseen situations that may need more time to deal with more complicated issues unfolded later. For middle management, this means that there is no need to ask for approval from senior management for the otherwise additional fees and there is no worry that the pre-assigned budget would be exceeded. For the Expert, there is no need to prepare the time sheets, which may lead to later disputes with the Clients and the Expert's time can be used more productively, solely in dealing with the issues.
- Out-of-Pocket Expenses
In all our packages, all out-of-pocket expenses, such as airfare, travel insurance, hotel accommodation, meals, local transportation, courier, telephone, fax and the like are to be charged at cost. However, these expenses must be approved by our Clients.
Expert's Report Package
- Purpose:
To use our Expert's Report to convince the opposing parties that they may be wrong, at least partially, and therefore convince them to come early to the negotiation table for an amicable solution. Otherwise, the Expert's Report may be used to support litigation if no amicable solution can be achieved.
- Special Features:
Our Expert's Report meets the strict specifications, format and style of the Academy of Experts, Gray's Inn, London. Our opinions are not made in the "personal" style, such as "in my opinion" or "I think", as certain untrained experts do. Our opinions are all supported by ICC official opinions and decisions, quotations of articles and publications by the authorities, and where applicable, precedent legal cases from UK, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and other countries. We own one of the most comprehensive private libraries, exclusively for letter of credit publications, journals, magazines and brochures, including those out-of-print past publications (such as Bernard S. Wheble, Gray Sinclair and the like) from ICC Paris, IFSA and IFS.
Negotiation Package
- Purpose:
To assist our Clients to convince the other parties to come to the negotiation table early to resolve the disputes that will be narrowed down to the key issues leaving the technical differences behind - the time proven "Premier Chou En Lai Approach". This includes lobbying and mediation where applicable, provided the Expert's neutrality is upheld.
- Special Features:
Certain lawyers act like rigid gatekeepers, pushing parties further apart with too much emphasis on legal procedures and obligations. Although we hold certificates on certain commercial laws, we are not lawyers and are hence more flexible, adhering more to trade customs and practice to increase chance of successes in negotiation. This package includes one trip of maximum 7 consecutive days to perform negotiation works overseas.
Litigation Package
- Purpose:
To work closely with Clients' lawyers and barristers during the various stages of legal proceedings, such as discovery, exchange of expert's report, meetings of experts, drafting of agreement of experts, and to appear in court as an expert witness.
- Special Features:
We are fully trained by the Academy of Experts, Gary's Inn, London to perform our duty to the court, to remain independent and impartial at all times, not to act like an advocate, to increase the credibility of our Expert's Report to the Judges. Our expert's opinions are presented in the same logical approach to match the decision making process of the Judges. We re also fully trained for witness box skills and would not fall easily to the traps set by the opposing barristers during the cross examinations. This package includes a trip of maximum 7 consecutive days to appear as an expert witness in a foreign court.
Retainer Services
- Answering enquiries on letter of credit operations, such as meaning of jargons, right procedure, checking documents, implication of an article and best trade practice.
- In litigation and arbitration, we work exclusively for the interests of our Clients and will refuse appointment by the opposing parties or their solicitors.
- Our retainer fees are based on the size of our Client's business. However, we can be flexible for new Clients.
Advisory, Mediation & Arbitration Services
- To provide strengths and weaknesses analysis and to offer different options to resolve international trade disputes.
- To assist our Clients in negotiation with the professionals in banks, freight forwarders, carriers, insurers, surveyors and other parties to cure discrepancies in letters of credit and to resolve disputes. We may also act as a Mediator, an Advocate, an Arbitrator, a Consultant and an Expert Witness.
- To overhaul our Clients' O&M (Organisation & Methods) system to enhance overall operation efficiency, to foster better collaboration amongst the sales/marketing department and the shipping department and to avoid potential risk arising out of improper documentation and procedure, which account for 30% of discrepancies in letters of credit.
- To provide other ad hoc services as and when required by our Clients.
Expert Witness Services
- To conduct preliminary study of our Client's case and, if litigation is desirable, recommend out of our own professional network, the most competent solicitors and barristers. They possess the required level of expertise on the applicable law, experience in customs and practice of the trade, and knowledge in precedent cases. This will increase our Client's chance of winning the case with savings in cost and time.
- To provide an Expert's Report to help the Judges understand the key issues better.
- To act as an Expert Witness in high court.
Training and Development Services
- To perform training needs analysis and to design tailor made training workshops on international trading techniques to reduce discrepancies, disputes and non-payment. Improvements in documentation and procedure will further enhance our Clients' ISO9000 standards.
- Our training is known to be 4"i's" - inspiring, insightful, interesting, and interactive on top of pragmatic and humorous. Famous legal cases, cases studies, model answers, and group discussions are used extensively to stimulate active participation.
- Our training programmes cover letter of credit, the UCP 600, ISBP 681, ISP98, documentary collection, bill of lading, multimodal transport, charter parties, Incoterms 2000, maritime chartering, cargo insurance, international commercial frauds, China trade and multilateral trade conventions.
Free Enquiries and Quotation
- You are welcome to make enquiries and to fax us your key documents for our free review and quotation. We are committed to keeping in strict confidence the information provided by our Clients.
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(416) 298-5881 |  |
(416) 292-5535 |
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