Holly Piggott
Holly Piggott joined Alinea Customs as Director in 2019. Alinea Customs is a customs brokerage specialising in import and export clearance across ports throughout the United Kingdom. The firm is distinguished by its in-house legal expertise, offering comprehensive advisory on all facets of UK customs compliance and practice.
In addition to clearance services, Alinea Customs supports international companies entering the UK market by assisting with company formation, VAT registration, and VAT filing. The company’s name, Alinea, is derived from Latin, meaning “a new train of thought,” reflecting an innovative and solution-oriented approach to global trade.
Holly Piggott offers consultancy services, providing expert guidance on matters related to the international sale of goods. Her advisory covers key areas such as Incoterms, quotas, rules of origin, special customs procedures, environmental and cultural heritage laws, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and indirect taxation.
Holly Piggott holds an LLM in International Corporate and Commercial Law, from The Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s College London. She was a participant in the Border Innovation Hub lead by the Cabinet Office.
Contact information
Content by Holly Piggott
Exporting fine art and cultural goods to the European Union
On 28 June 2025, the European Union activated the Import of Cultural Goods (ICG) system, a centralised electronic platform for lodging and processing import licences and importer statements. This marks the full implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/880 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1079. For customs practitioners, this change means that imports...
Roseline Logistics v HMRC: a warning on customs agent liability
The article below examines a recent ruling by the UK First-tier Tax Tribunal regarding liability for unpaid import VAT. The case clarifies whether customs agents are liable if they have not been formally appointed. It also clarifies when customs agents may still be held accountable for unpaid import VAT if...
First arbitration decision under EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
This article examines the UK-Sandeel arbitration case, which was the first dispute to be resolved under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) framework. It outlines the background to the case, the arguments put forward by both parties, the findings of the tribunal, and the subsequent steps taken by the...
Challenges faced by UK customs brokers
In this recording of the " UK roundtable " held on 12 June 2025, Holly Piggott, Director of Alinea Customs, discusses the key challenges currently faced by UK customs brokers. Holly outlines the expanding responsibilities of brokers, including acting as tax agents and providing fiscal representation, and explains the legal...
An overview of the Cost, Insurance, Freight (CIF) Incoterm
Incoterms are international trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce and widely adopted on a global basis. In the United Kingdom, there is a legal obligation to submit the Incoterms relating to all imports to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from 30 September 2022. This article will...
Popular articles
First arbitration decision under EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
This article examines the UK-Sandeel arbitration case, which was the first dispute to be resolved under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) framework. It outlines the background to the case, the arguments put forward by both parties, the findings of the tribunal, and the subsequent steps taken by the...
An overview of the Cost, Insurance, Freight (CIF) Incoterm
Incoterms are international trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce and widely adopted on a global basis. In the United Kingdom, there is a legal obligation to submit the Incoterms relating to all imports to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from 30 September 2022. This article will...
Roseline Logistics v HMRC: a warning on customs agent liability
The article below examines a recent ruling by the UK First-tier Tax Tribunal regarding liability for unpaid import VAT. The case clarifies whether customs agents are liable if they have not been formally appointed. It also clarifies when customs agents may still be held accountable for unpaid import VAT if...