Maria E. Celis
Profile
About Maria
Maria E. Celis is the current General Counsel for a Japanese cosmetics company, JO Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (JOC) and a former partner at Neville Peterson LLP (NPLLP), an international boutique law firm specializing in Customs and International Trade. She worked with JOC as their outside counsel since 2007 and has been its General Counsel since February 2020. Maria has been with NPLLP for about twenty-five years – first as an intern, then as an associate, as a partner, and now as Of Counsel, whenever her expertise is needed by the firm.
As General Counsel for JOC, she works on various matters including commercial distribution contracts, compliance issues, employment issues, corporate governance, and risk assessment. She has also worked as a Senior Legal Consultant for Maesa LLC, assisting their legal team with privacy, GDPR, and contract issues. Additionally, she provides counsel to Sabatino North America on any contract, corporate governance, compliance, and distribution matters.
As Of Counsel at NPLLP, she specializes in Customs and International Trade matters including classification, valuation, eligibility under various trade agreements, and FDA issues, including GMP audits, MOCRA, and OTC drug listings.
She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of International Trade, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
About Neville Peterson LLP
Neville Peterson LLP, with over 35 years of experience, specializes in international and domestic trade law. The firm advises and represents corporations, governments, brokers, carriers, and individuals on trade, Customs, export controls, IP, antitrust, and shipping law. They handle administrative, litigation, and counseling before US and international bodies.
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