In the past few weeks I’ve worked with a number of small business clients looking to go international. In what I perceive as a definite sign of a strengthening economy, the increase in small businesses looking to capitalize on international business opportunities has skyrocketed in the past six months. Increasingly, these international business enterprises are getting … [Read more...]
Clean Energy Cases Are Heating Up the World Trade Organization.
I'll be heading to Washington, D.C. next week to meet with White House officials and members of Congress to discuss the President's clean energy agenda. So it's no surprise that I’m a big advocate of the global clean energy industry, which last year alone generated almost $269 Billion in international business. In somewhat of a tribute to the growing importance of clean … [Read more...]
U.S. and E.U. Trade Negotiations: A Complete Waste of Time?
Last month I wrote about the Obama Administration’s plan to negotiate a U.S. and E.U. Free Trade Agreement in the next few years. Lots of folks think its an excellent idea. And so do I. However, there is at least one commenter who thinks that U.S. and E.U. trade negotiations is a terrible idea. … [Read more...]
International Trade Skyrockets in Miami Customs District.
The venerable Mimi Whitefield of the Miami Herald is reporting that 2012 was a record-breaking year for international trade in the Miami Customs District with $124.73 billion worth of trade being exchanged. According to Whitefield, Miami district exports increased to a record $73.3 billion, up nearly 6 percent from the previous year, and imports totaled a record $51.4 … [Read more...]
Don't Miss the 11th Annual International Litigation and Arbitration Conference March 1, 2013.
The Florida Bar's International Law Section will be hosting its 11th annual International Litigation and Arbitration Conference on March 1, 2013. The event will be held at the stunning Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL, located a short distance from Miami International Airport. I will be speaking on the panel "How Should Counsel Use Trade Agreements in Commercial … [Read more...]
Investment Visas in Brazil. The Basics.
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...]
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...]
Why Your 3PL Contract Should Match Your RFP.
I work with a variety of business clients that have their own logistics departments to coordinate their international shipping operations. For many companies, however, having an in-house logistics department can really put a dent in a company's bottom line. That's why third party logistics providers or 3PLs have become so valuable. In selecting a 3PL, a company (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...]