Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight. -- Old Japanese Proverb Remember Japan? Well, Michael Shuman of Time magazine does. He’s written … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to the Hague Evidence Convention: Thanks for Nothing. I'll Stick with the Federal Rules.
Dear Hague Evidence Convention: This letter pains me. In the past several weeks I’ve written several posts extolling the virtues of your convention siblings governing serving process abroad and legalizing documents for use overseas-- the Hague Service Convention and the Hague Legalization Convention. These two conventions have worked very well to simplify and streamline … [Read more...]
How To Get An Export License in 7 Steps
There’s never been a better time to expand your business internationally. Opening up revenue streams from other parts of the word is one of the best way to send your sales soaring to new heights. The good news is that most products can be exported without having to obtain a U.S. export license. However, if you are exporting anything on the U.S. Department of … [Read more...]
Ireland Passes Arbitration Act of 2010: Incorporates UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration
I’ve been lucky to have visited Ireland a few times in the past several years. From the unbridled majesty of the Cliffs of Moer, to the emerald hills of Kilarney, to the bustling streets of Dublin, everything about Ireland is pastoral and progressive at the same time. Leave it to an international law geek like me to notice that even its judiciary reflects this … [Read more...]
UK Investors Offered Amnesty Under Liechtenstein Tax Deal
In a trend that could spread to other jurisdictions, Liechtenstein is asking wealthy UK investors who have assets hidden abroad to take advantage of its “unique and attractive” amnesty program. The agreement reached between the UK and Liechtenstein combines generous terms with a promise by the principality to close the accounts of customers who could not prove they … [Read more...]
How to Authenticate Documents for Use Abroad Under the Hague Legalization Convention
I recently represented an overseas client who sued a U.S. party based on a transaction that took place overseas. The transaction centered on several key affidavits, powers of attorney and attestations that we would need to use in U.S. litigation. Traditionally, for such documents to be made admissible in U.S. courts, the documents must have been … [Read more...]
How to Protect Your Intellectual Property and Avoid Outsourcing Pitfalls
Define. Scrutinize. Monitor. About 11 years ago my firm was retained by a large computer company to file a claim against an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) based in Taiwan for theft of trade secrets. Our client had retained the OEM to manufacture what was then the first “all-in-one” motherboard. I’ll spare you the technical details but this … [Read more...]
7 Steps to Effectuate International Service of Process under the Hague Service Convention.
Given the international focus of my practice, I regularly serve process on parties located in foreign jurisdictions. Most of the time it's straightforward because many of the countries I deal with are signatories to the Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, more commonly called the Hague … [Read more...]
Doing Business in Japan Teleconference. $768.8 Billion Reasons to Attend
The International Law Prof Blog has passed along details about an upcoming teleconference, “Doing Business with Japan,” sponsored by the American Bar Association Section of International Law. The conference could not come at a better time. Businessweek’s Daniel Kruger reported this week that Japan has overtaken China as the largest foreign holder of … [Read more...]
The International Business Law Advsior Goes to Washington to Lobby for Global Warming Legislation–or is it "Global Weirding?"
I traveled to Washington D.C. a few weeks ago and spent several whirlwind days on Capitol Hill meeting with an assortment of Cabinet Members, Senators and Congressmen on pending climate change legislation. Thanks to climate and energy advocate extraordinaire Susan Glickman for putting the trip together, Before anyone says anything--the irony of the snow falling on me as I made … [Read more...]