Marie-Sophie Dibling is a leading advisor to clients facing complex trade defence investigations, critical trade policy and market access issues.
Drawing upon more than 15 years of international trade experience, she advocates for European industries and associations that face unfair competition from third countries on the EU market or trade barriers on export markets. She is also well-versed in the use of international trade rules in Morocco. Based in Brussels, Ms. Dibling advises clients throughout Europe and Africa.
Ms. Dibling’s practice focuses on international trade, with a particular emphasis on trade defence instruments (anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard proceedings), trade lobbying and trade policy. She represents an array of EU, UK and Moroccan industries including biodiesel, steel, wood panel, refrigerators, books, textiles, and ceramic tile, among many others.
Her Brussels’ practice has involved the defence of EU associations and industries in lodging trade defence complaints before the EU Commission. She also represents companies targeted by trade defence investigations initiated by third countries. Ms. Dibling also represents companies before the European Court of Justice in trade and regulatory matters, and advises on potential FTA violations.
In Morocco, Ms. Dibling represents domestic companies in trade defence proceedings, advised on the implementation of free trade agreements, prepared merger filings before the Moroccan Competition Council and assisted with customs issues at the international level.
Before joining Cassidy Levy Kent, Ms. Dibling chaired the Brussels International Trade Practice of a major U.S. firm. She also chaired the Trade and Lobbying Practice of a major French law firm and led the opening of its Moroccan office.
Government Service
Ms. Dibling served as a trainee lawyer in the Cabinet of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
Honors
- Ranked as “Leading Partner” by Legal 500
- Ranked as “Up and Coming for International Trade/WTO” by Chambers Europe and Chambers Global
- Recommended by Who Is Who Legal for Trade & Customs
- Ranked by Law.com among the “Rising Stars: Europe’s Best Up-and-Coming Female Lawyers”
Representative Matters
- Represented the European Biodiesel Board in the anti-dumping investigation on biodiesel imports from China
- Represented Cerame-Unie in the expiry review investigation on ceramic tableware and kitchenware imports from China
- Represented the Moroccan school book industry in the expiry review investigation on school book imports from Tunisia
- Represented the EU Coalition of EU producers of superabsorbent in an anti-dumping investigation on imports of superabsorbent from Korea
- Represented Eurofer in an expiry review investigation on imports of organic coated steel from China
- Represented the European Man-Made Fibres Association in an anti-dumping investigation on high tenacity yarn of polyester imports from China
Professional Affiliations
- Member, Scientific Committee of the yearly Trade Defence Conference organized by the VUB Brussels School of Governance
- President and Member of the Board, of the Resident Committee of the Biermans-Lapôtre Foundation, 2006-2007 (Paris)
Recent Speaking Engagements
- Brussels School of Governance “TDI Yearly 2023: Key developments in the EU’s trade defense policy of the year 2023,” 9 November 2023
Publications
- Commentaries on World Trade Law: Volume 3, Brill & Nijhoff, Chapter: Article 4 ADA: Definition of Domestic Industry (19 Dec 2024) and Article 5 ADA: Initiation and Subsequent Investigation (2024)
- Co-Author, “EU joins US in banning forced labour products: supply chain human rights due diligence accessible,” Thomson Reuters Practical Law, 7 November 2022
- Regularly quoted in print and other media, e.g., Financial Times, “EU Struggles to Counter Joe Biden’s Big Green Push,” 12 December 2022
Education
- Master of Laws, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
- Undergraduate, Facultés Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles
Languages
- French
- English
Bar Memberships
- Paris
- Brussels (E list)