There seems to be no end in sight for investment opportunities in Brazil. Here in Miami, where my practice is based, I've seen an incredible amount of interest from investors wanting to get their hands on Brazilian Visas. There's a great post over at the Brazilian Law Blog that does a great job of going over the types of visas available for those looking to invest there. In … [Read more...]
International Technology Laws Apply to You too, Google.
I can't stress enough how important it is for technology companies operating overseas to be mindful of the dizzying array of compliance laws that apply. Some companies just don't seem to get it. I bring this up because the Washington Post is reporting that Google faces at least 10 lawsuits in the United Kingdom over violation of the UK’s stringent privacy protection … [Read more...]
How International Litigators Can Change the World. A Case Study.
One of the things I love most about being an international litigator is the opportunity to challenge the status quo and have a positive impact at the global level. Whether it’s representing victims against human rights abuse in the Middle East, bringing justice to swindled French investors, or helping to track down North African warlords, the work can be extremely … [Read more...]
Have a Legal Dispute in Asia? Singapore is the Place to Resolve it.
I'm a big advocate for doing business in Singapore. Year after year, it's ranked as the easiest country in the world to start a business. Singapore is also the third richest country in the world, ranking behind only Qatar and Luxembourg. A big part of Singapore’s success is rooted in its modern legal system. The legal system in Singapore has received global recognition for … [Read more...]
International Mergers & Acquisitions: A 17 Point Checklist for U.S. Acquisitions.
Over at the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation blog, there’s an excellent post for international companies that are looking to acquire a U.S. company. The post, Checklist for Successful Acquisitions in the U.S., does a great job of itemizing the most important point that must be considered when targeting a U.S. acquisitions. Among the … [Read more...]
Start-up Locally, Expand Globally: Why Your Startup Should Always be an International Business.
I represent several start-up businesses here in Miami. From the get-go these companies have wisely targeted international markets. At least for me, going international is a no-brainer. After all, there’s no better way for a start-up to dramatically accelerate growth. For example, one company I work with has already branched out to Brazil and China. The company … [Read more...]
5 Key Terms to Include in Your International Franchise Agreement.
During the past several weeks, I've been working on a major international franchise deal. The transaction requires that a master international franchise contract be used in several countries. While every country has its own set of franchise laws, there are certain material terms that simply cannot be excluded from an international franchise agreement. As with any … [Read more...]
How to Draft an International Manufacturing Contract.
The other day I got a call from a company requesting my assistance in structuring an international manufacturing agreement. While the majority of my cases are centered on international litigation or arbitration, I get a big thrill out of structuring international business contracts. Doing international transactional work allows me to get an inside look at the business side of … [Read more...]
Business Ethics in Emerging Markets: Global Standards, Local Strategies.
A few months ago, I was asked to spend the morning speaking to several classes at a local high school on the topic of ethics in recognition of National Government Ethics Day. It was a great experience. While I was impressed with the depth and scope of the students' questions, one question stood out for me. The questions was: "do people in different countries have different … [Read more...]
Boeing's Dreamliner is a Dream for International Litigators.
There's been a lot of press the past few days over the worldwide grounding of Boeing's Dreamliner aircraft due to faulty batteries. As reported in the Wall Street Journal article, All Boeing Dreamliners Are Grounded World-Wide, the grounding of the Dreamliner marks the first time in four decades that U.S. airlines were forced to ground an airliner. U.S. airlines were joined … [Read more...]