Our People

Ross Stuart Becroft, BA, LLB, M Comm Law, PhD

Ross was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor in 1994 and he joined the practice in 1998 after four years practising in Commercial Litigation and Insolvency. Ross had developed considerable experience and expertise with trade remedies (especially anti-dumping) issues, customs valuation, advising on and documenting commercial transactions and advice concerning cargo disputes. His other relevant credentials include:

• Author of the text The Standard of Review in WTO Dispute Settlement: Critique and Development, Edward Elgar, UK & USA 2012.
• Awarded a PhD with his thesis dealing with the standard of review applied by the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body in trade remedy disputes.
• Lecturer with Melbourne Law School lecturing dispute resolution in the JD program.
• Acted for parties in many international commercial matters such as assisting to develop a European Joint Venture for an Environmental Management Business, coordinating sales of mining and industrial assets to the Middle East and dealing with various urgent customs and shipping matters for overseas parties.
• Provided advice to corporations concerning prospective anti-dumping action and review of Customs trade measures findings.
• Involvement in a number of Landmark Australian cases including Ok Tedi Mining Litigation, Brashs (both marks 1 and 2) and Linter Group litigation.
• Executive member of the International Bar Association Trade & Customs Law Committee.
• Member of the International Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.
• Author of numerous articles on international trade matters published in industry newsletters, Law Institute Journal and academic journals. Former Editor of the Law Institute of Victoria's Young Lawyers' Journal.
• Instructor with Leo Cussen Institute for its Practical Training Course for Legal Graduates.

Louis Gross, B.Juris., LLB

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.