‘Recruiting two experts of the pedigree of Hannes and Hamid is a very exciting development for our trade team,’ said Steve Orava, chair of the International Trade Group. ‘Their collective, high-level expertise in two organisations as important as the EC and the WTO offers our clients an expanded perspective on the practical business implications of international trade matters.’ Mr Welge is an expert in EU trade remedy law and most recently served as Hearing Officer for Trade Proceedings at the EC. He founded and chaired for 12 years the WTO Technical Group on Antidumping and worked as the EU chief negotiator for Trade Remedy Rules in WTO negotiations and in the EU Delegation in Geneva on WTO issues. Prior to joining the EC, Mr Welge was a judge at the Hamburg law courts dealing with competition and intellectual property law cases. 

International trade rules expertise

Mr Mamdouh has expertise and experience in the development and application of international trade rules to services, including issues affecting the digital economy. Before joining King & Spalding, he served in the WTO Secretariat as Director of the Trade in Services and Investment Division and was Secretary to the WTO Council for Trade in Services since the establishment of the WTO in 1995. He also served as a Senior Counsellor in the Services Division and previously as a member of the Diplomatic Service of Egypt. 

Committed to 'exceptional legal advice'

‘Our Geneva office is committed to providing exceptional legal advice, and Hannes and Hamid are two lawyers who complement this commitment in the substantive and diplomatic context of international trade law,’ added Daniel Crosby, Office Managing Partner in Geneva. ‘We are very pleased to have them join our team, and to add their depth of experience to our client service.’