Natalia Shpilkovskaya possesses considerable experience in researching WTO law. As a specialist for the Center, she is involved in development and elaboration of legal positions for WTO dispute settlement mechanism participation, as well as in preparation of documents for submission to WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body.
In addition, Natalia provides research and analytical support on the issues of trade policy and international trade negotiations, interpretation of WTO Agreements, analysis of WTO jurisprudence as well as analysis of consistency of trade measures with WTO norms.
Participation in negotiations on Russia’s accession to the WTO in 2000–2006 and in the WTO dispute settlement mechanism (since 2011) gave Natalia significant practical experience in WTO law research, and provision of legal assistance in connection with protection of clients’ interests in the WTO context.
For three years prior to joining our team in 2014, Natalia had been engaged with the international trade law group Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Canada. Natalia’s professional scope involved provision of legal analysis services in connection with WTO agreement provisions and analysis of trade measures for their consistency with WTO rules. She was particularly involved in legal research, analysis of trade measures and preparation of submissions to WTO’s Appellate Body in US – Clove Cigarettes, US – Tuna II (Mexico) and US – COOL, and to the panel in US – COOL (Article 21.5).
From 2002 to 2006 Natalia worked in the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN office in Geneva and other international organizations in Geneva. Her functions involved provision of legal assistance on issues arising in the process of the accession negotiations. Natalia implemented monitoring and drafted reports on accessions of other countries to the organization, on the proceedings of the Dispute Settlement Body, and on the Doha round progress, in particular, on trade facilitation and improvement of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.
From 2007 to 2018 Natalia was the managing editor of Mosty (“Bridges”), a periodical on trade law and sustainable development issues. The periodical was published by the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD).
Education:
LL.M. in international trade law, University of Ottava, 2007
Qualified lawyer with a degree in jurisprudence, Moscow State Law Academy (now known as
Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL)), 1998
Language skills:
Russian
English
Work Experience:
2014– present: Chief Expert, WTO Expertise Center
2011–2014: Senior Associate Consultant, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (“BLG”), Ottawa
2007–2018: Consultant – Managing Editor, Mosty, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva
2007–2008: Consultant – Researcher on legal and international trade issues, University of Ottawa
2002–2006: First secretary, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva
1998–2002: Counsellor, Legal Department, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
1996–1998: Head of Legal Department, FSUE NPO Tekhnomash, Moscow
