International Trade and Customs

Felicia Leborgne Nowels is Board Certified in International law, and focuses her practice on international trade and customs law. Felicia assists domestic and foreign companies with cross-border movement of goods and services. Whether drafting international distribution or trade agreements, consulting or litigating on customs procedures or trade benefits, Felicia's goal is to bring efficient business solutions to her clients' global issues.

Felicia counsels her clients on various aspects of international trade and customs transactional, regulatory and litigation matters including: product marking and labeling; tariff classification, valuation and preference; focused assessments; CTPAT; Free Trade Zone matters; drawback; antidumping and countervailing duty investigations and administrative reviews; Section 301 and Section 232 tariff proceedings; copyright and trademark protection; seizures; detentions; notices of action; debarment; export controls and enforcement related to the EAR and ITAR; trade benefits, and regulatory approval of highly regulated commodities, products, art, animals, food, medical devices, and chemicals.

Her fluency in several languages is advantageous to her clients in structuring businesses to best position themselves in the U.S. and international markets, and negotiating multi-national agreements. Felicia has drafted, negotiated and guided her clients on distribution agreements and cross-border transactions. Felicia also assists her clients in maintaining compliant business practices by conducting due diligence investigations, and drafting and implementing compliance manuals.

Felicia represents clients before federal agencies, such as: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Treasury, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the Small Business Administration, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Agriculture, Federal Trade Commission, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Department of State, Department of Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and other regulatory agencies to obtain requisite licenses and approvals when entering goods into the U.S. market or exporting goods to foreign countries. She also represents her clients when faced with administrative action taken by federal and state agencies, including investigations, recalls and penalty proceedings.

FDA

Felicia represents companies before the FDA. She assists clients with regulatory compliance issues such as labeling and regulatory approval, and recalls of drugs, dietary supplements, medical devices, cosmetics, and foods. Felicia also focuses her practice on the international trade of such products.

Felicia assists manufacturers and distributors of FDA regulated products in obtaining necessary FDA permits, registrations, and approvals. She guides her clients on labeling regulations and plays an integral role in the production and creation of labels and marketing materials of drugs, dietary supplements, medical devices, cosmetics, and foods.

Felicia also prepares and implements FDA compliance measures, good manufacturing practices, record keeping, and recall procedures.

CPSC

Felicia represents companies before the CPSC. She assists companies in developing compliant labeling and marketing materials for its products. She works with manufacturers, private labelers, distributors, retailers and importers to ensure products meet the CPSC safety standards. Felicia also represents clients before the CPSC on recalls, consumer complaints, CPSC investigations and Corrective Action Plans resulting from a product recall.

FCC

Felicia represents clients in licensing matters before the Federal Communications Commission. She frequently assists clients in transfer of license in mergers and acquisitions, as well as licensing entities for commercial users and non-commercial users. Felicia has assisted clients in obtaining Commission approval of licenses, as well as rule challenges.

Government Affairs/Administrative

Felicia's Florida practice focuses on administrative and regulatory matters, including: telecommunications, licensing; Chapter 287 procurement; bid protests; rule challenges; escheatment laws; Chapter 120 hearings, and public records and the Sunshine Laws. She has represented clients before state agencies, local governments, school boards and the Division of Administrative Hearings.

Crisis Management

With her expert foundation in regulatory and operational compliance, Felicia brings tremendous experience to her list of national clients, advising on crisis management and the various aspects of the Defense Production Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), including the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program, and Title IV air carrier Payroll Support and loan programs. She has been working with clients to navigate the complex executive orders for operation. Additionally, she is reviewing SBA PPP applications, advising on eligibility, affiliation, good faith certification, advising on caps for corporate groups and outlining considerations for various applicants.

Representative Industries and Products

Consumer Electronics, FDA Regulated Products: Food, Dietary Supplements, Drugs, Medical Devices, Cosmetics, Veterinary Drugs, Apparel, Footwear, Jewelry and Accessories, Art, Antiquities and Furniture, Munitions and Controlled Technology, Fuel and Chemicals, Aircraft Parts, and Office Supplies. 

FTC

Felicia has substantial experience counseling clients on consumer advertising and marketing laws, including designing advertising audits. She represents clients before the Federal Trade Commission, State Attorneys General, National Advertising Division and Departments of Consumer Affairs related to investigations and enforcement of deceptive, unfair and anticompetitive business practices.