As an international business attorney, all types of cases cross my desk. A good part of my practice involves international litigation. The cases range from simple breach of contract disputes to a complex trademark infringement proceedings. While both domestic and international lawsuits (where one or more parties are located in another country) look very similar, the … [Read more...]
Stranger Things in Venezuela: the Default Demogorgon
Having just wrapped up Season 2 of Stranger Things this week, I just couldn’t help draw the connection between the Mind Flayer and its army of Demogorgons wreaking havoc in Hawking, Indiana and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his finance ministers terrorizing global capital markets in Caracas, Venezuela. While the former makes for good entertainment, the latter makes … [Read more...]
The 5 Most Important Words in an International Contract.
As an international business attorney, a focal point of my practice involves advising clients on the terms and conditions that absolutely must be included in an international business agreement. Having drafted hundreds of commercial contracts over the years, I narrowed down what I perceive to be the five most important terms to include in a cross-border contract. While … [Read more...]
The Top Ten Brexit Articles to Read Now
Over the past several weeks, our law firm has seen a big increase in the number of Brexit-related phone calls and emails. Naturally, business people from all over the world are concerned about Brexit and want to know how it’s going to affect their international business operations. The inquires range from the simple (what IS Brexit?) to the more complex (will UK insurance … [Read more...]
Rum, Risk and Ruin: 13 Reasons Why You Still Shouldn’t Do Business in Cuba.
The removal of Cuba from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list this week sparked a groundswell of excitement among U.S. entrepreneurs, lawyers, and investors looking to profit from the “enormous opportunities” on the island. As part of the Florida Bar’s first-ever delegation to Havana, Cuba last week, I got the chance to see these “opportunities” for myself. Indeed, … [Read more...]
The Ultimate International Law Guide for U.S. Judges–And Attorneys!
Several months ago I argued a case that centered on the finer points of forum non conveniens. The issue comes-up regularly given the large number of international companies doing business here in Miami. While my adversary and I had a firm grasp of the issues involved, the judge wanted to take some additional time to review the case law cited in our briefs before making a … [Read more...]
Connecting with International Business Leaders is Elementary: Start with the Periodic Table of LinkedIn Influencers.
One of the great things about my job is connecting with international business leaders from all over the world. Whether its resolving a dispute between parties in Zurich and Saudi Arabia or closing a deal between joint partners in Singapore and London, it's the relationship-building that is the most fulfilling. While working on international matters is an ideal way to … [Read more...]
How to Supercharge Your Exports with a Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL).
“I have a problem,” the caller said to me. “Our company's textile factory in Vietnam has been sitting idle for several weeks." The caller explained that it's cotton supplier was unable to clear its shipping documents with customs officials. I asked whether the company had a back-up plan to find an alternative supply. "No," replied the caller. "We didn't think we'd ever need … [Read more...]
4 Reasons Why a Lawsuit Over Flight MH17 Will Not Succeed in U.S. Courts.
"I opened the door and it was raining people. One fell in my vegetable patch" --Irina Tipunova, Rozsypne, Ukraine That horrific account captures only part of the tragedy that ended the lives of 298 passengers aboard Malaysia Flight MH17 last month. Several hundred feet from Ms. Tipunova’s home, dozens more ravaged bodies lay in the wheat fields where the airliner came … [Read more...]
35 International Business Etiquette Rules that Might Surprise You.
Besides that one time in Switzerland that I yodeled my lunch order, I’ve had a good stretch of luck with not running afoul of any major rules of etiquette when doing business in other countries. Whether I’m at Breakfast with a banker in Brazil, at lunch with a lawyer in London or at dinner with a dealer in Denmark, I’m always uneasy about violating some unspoken rule of … [Read more...]