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...]
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...]
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...]
How Safe are the Sochi Olympic Games?
A special guest post by Global Security Consultant and Political Risk Expert, Paul Crespo. This is the latest post in the series. The 2014 Olympic Winter Games began today in Sochi, Russia. Numerous U.S. multinational corporations such as McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Proctor & Gamble and Visa are sponsoring or participating, and 10,000 Americans are expected to attend. … [Read more...]
Japan’s New 24-Hour Advance Manifest Rule Takes Effect on March 10, 2014.
On March 14, 2014, Japan will join the global effort to make things more difficult for exporters secure supply chains against international terrorism with the implementation of it’s own “24-hour rule.” First implemented by the U.S. in 2002, the 24-hour advance manifest rule requires all inbound cargo carriers to submit complete manifests a full 24 hours before leaving their … [Read more...]
Don't Let Shipping Piracy Sink Your International Business.
A special guest post by Global Security Consultant and Political Risk Expert, Paul Crespo. This is the latest post in the series. With the dramatic growth of global commerce more businesses rely on maritime shipping to get their goods and raw materials to market. The release of the Tom Hanks film "Captain Phillips" depicting the 2009 hijacking of the US merchant ship Maersk … [Read more...]
3 Steps to Prepare your International Business for Crisis and Continuity
A special guest post by Global Security Consultant and Political Risk Expert, Paul Crespo. This is the seventh post in the series. Global companies today face a variety of serious risks that range from political disturbances, terrorist bombings, supply chain disruptions, natural disasters and cyber-attacks, to the kidnapping of key executives. Any of these threats can create … [Read more...]
How Secure Are U.S. Businesses in Mexico?
A special guest post by Global Security Consultant and Political Risk Expert, Paul Crespo. This is the fifth post in the series. Mexico is a top Latin American location for American business operations. A vast market with close proximity, Mexico represents the United States’s second largest export market and its third largest source of imports. Recently however, the battle … [Read more...]