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Maritime, trade and transportation touch on practically every aspect of our lives. Taken together, they are the driving industry in not only Louisiana, but across the country and around the world. Because this affects every business in one form or another, I strive to help clients understand and navigate the complex statutes and regulations governing this industry, and its ever-changing global landscape.

Cole Callihan’s practice focuses primarily on regulatory affairs, with an emphasis on customs and international trade. He regularly counsels and represents clients on matters before the Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Department of Transportation (DOT), Maritime Administration (MARAD), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

Cole represents clients on customs and trade matters involving HTS classifications, protests and prior disclosures, Sections 232 and 301 tariffs, country of origin, tariff mitigation and engineering, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), sanctions, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, preferential tariff programs, foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses.

In his maritime practice, Cole counsels clients on issues relating to the Jones Act and Coastwise trade and has obtained favorable rulings from CBP. Cole also assists clients on foreign worker exemptions on the outer continental shelf, B-1 (OCS) visas, and foreign and domestic vessel documentation.

Applying his supply chain knowledge, Cole assists clients with drafting and negotiating ocean carrier service contracts, freight forwarding and broker agreements, motor carrier agreements, marine terminal operating agreements, supply agreements, and packaging and warehouse agreements. 

Representative highlights include:

  • Preparing anti-bribery and anti-corruption compliance policy and program for international medical device company. 
  • Leading and coordinating regulatory effort for international manufacturer on rulemaking and waivers for the Build America, Buy America (BABA) program.
  • Acting as outside regulatory counsel for national commercial trucking and logistics provider.
  • Counseling clients on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and obtaining release of cargo under the Act.
  • Managing multi-million dollar HTS classification issue and prior disclosure on behalf of a Fortune 500 company.
  • Obtaining 80% mitigation of over $2 million in CBP penalties on behalf of shipping services provider.
  • Preparing ocean carrier services template for one of the largest domestic retailers.
The practice of law provides me the wonderful opportunity to work with a variety of industries and individuals, all with unique legal problems. It is with this eagerness and enthusiasm that I approach each legal issue, no matter how large or small.

Education

  • Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, J.D., 2011
  • Louisiana State University, B.S., 2002

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Court Admissions

  • United States Court of International Trade

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO), Board Member
  • Customs and International Trade Bar Association
  • Raintree Children and Family Services, Associate Board Member
  • World Trade Center of New Orleans, Transportation Committee
  • Conference of Freight Counsel, Member
  • Tariff Update – Trade War Drums Grow Louder, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, September 2018
  • A Difficult Road Awaits the U.S. Mexico Canada Trade Agreement in Congress, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, October 2018
  • Don’t Feel Entirely Helpless in Trade Volatility, Global Trade, November 2018
  • U.S. Increasing Section 301 Tariffs on China, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, May 2019
  • When Supply Chains Become Blockchains, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, May 2019
  • Tariff Update: U.S. – China Truce and List 3 Exclusion Process, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, July 2019
  • As Global Trade Slows, How Can Businesses Mitigate Interruption to Supply Chains?, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, March 2020
  • Global Trade Policy Updates During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Adams and Reese Client Bulletin, March 2020