James McAndrew leads the firm’s international Art and Antiquity practice area. He’s a non-legal professional internationally known for his former role as the founder and Lead Program Manager of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s International Art and Antiquity Theft Investigations Program.  He was DHS’s spokesperson at international law enforcement, Customs and Cultural Ministry conferences hosted around the world.  He developed the DHS training program for CBPOs, DHS HSI Special Agents, DOJ United States Attorney’s Offices and foreign law enforcement officials.  James’ client’s include major auction houses, public, private, and academic museums and institutions, art dealers and high net worth collectors in the U.S. and abroad.

James compliments all of the firm’s practice areas with his 28-year successful career as a Senior Special Agent with legacy U.S. Customs Service thence the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, for which he held several positions at the field and managerial levels. James provides strategic advice to the firm’s clients whether they be foreign manufacturers, domestic producers, importers and exporters, in complex customs and international trade matters. He also provides strategic advice concerning third agency issues/inquiries such as OFAC, DOC, BIS, FINCEN, USFWS, CBP for Trademark, IPR, to name a few. 

He brings specialized expertise in customs civil and criminal enforcement of import and export regulations enforced by the 42 separate agencies with jurisdiction at U.S. ports of entry.  His law enforcement insight, experience and information has proven invaluable to the firm’s representation of many clients confronted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for alleged violations of import or export laws, regulations and agreements. 

Iona College B.A. (1982)

Art Insurance Advisors Group

Committee for Cultural Policy

International Council of Museums

International Trade Network

Senior Special Agent, US Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security

U.S. Customs Compliance Professionals

Notable Firm Client Engagements (Fraud):

Strategic advice to the firm’s representation of a major foreign shipper of garlic into the United States in an AD/CVD review by DOC.

Strategic advice to the firm’s representation of a major car manufacturer in a CBP audit concerning HTSUS classification dispute.

Client engagement for the classification of mineral specimens imported into the United States.

Legal research and analysis of U.S. Fish and Wildlife data and U.S. State’s regulations for the importation and use of animal and plant species for high-end fashion companies.

Strategic advice to the firm’s representation of a U.S. importer of wearing apparel made from recycled plastics that was challenged by CBP in a civil 592 action.

Strategic advice to the firm’s representation of a major U.S. tire importer against unfair competition.

Referral to DHS HSI concerning a U.S. tire importer/exporter alleged to be shipping tires to Iran in violation of U.S. Sanctions.

Client engagement for the classification of high-end watches and watch parts imported from Germany and Switzerland.

Notable Firm Client Engagements (Art and Cultural Property):

Retained by major U.S. Auction House’s to vet potential consignments of art and antiquities prior to sale at auction. 

Retained by major U.S. Auction Houses to conduct legal research and analysis of potential consignments of items made in whole or in part of species for compliance with federal and state endangered species laws.

Retained by major U.S. Auction Houses to provide strategic advice on matters involving U.S. and foreign government criminal and civil investigations on certain items consigned for sale.

Retained by major museums in the United States to provide strategic advice and guidance on their response to U.S. and foreign government criminal and civil investigations relating to items in their possession.

Retained by high-net worth individuals and public personalities to vet potential works of art or antiquities prior to any transaction.  Same category of client requests my strategic advice and representation when approached by federal law enforcement concerning an item in their collection.

Retained by U.S. and foreign art dealers and collectors to provide strategic advice on best practices to import and export works of art and/or antiquity into, from or through the United States.

Retained by U.S. and foreign art dealers and collectors to represent them in enforcement actions by U.S. federal, state and local law enforcement concerning criminal and civil investigations involving client’s acquisition, sale or transfer of a work of art and/or antiquity alleged to be stolen, looted, fake or forged.