International

Overview

Our International Group provides a broad range of legal services to domestic clients doing business overseas and foreign clients transacting business in the United States.  Our lawyers have extensive experience in handling a variety of sophisticated international matters, including mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, intellectual property enforcement and rights, overseas manufacturing operations, agency and distributorship arrangements, construction agreements, inbound and outbound capital investments, joint ventures, outsourcing, immigration, aircraft equipment acquisitions and product liability.  We have handled such matters throughout North and South America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and other Asian countries, and in Australia.

Our global reach and the broad expertise of our lawyers enable us to provide cost-effective and responsive services to our clients on international matters.

Representative recent international matters include:

  • A significant M&A transaction in Australia;
  • International hotel developments and joint ventures in Russia, Mexico, Western Europe, Central America and Japan;
  • Representation of airlines in China, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, including Cuba;
  • Represent foreign clients in matters concerning the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of State’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR);
  • Representation of foreign air carriers including obtaining customs bonds, working with customs on Advanced Passenger Information System (“APIS”), Passenger Name Records (“PNR”) and A Manifest System (“AMS”) for cargo;
  • Assisting clients with enforcement of U.S. intellectual property laws through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) as goods enter into the U.S.;
  • Representation of Middle Eastern and North African governments in politically sensitive litigation;
  • International agency distributorship agreements for a U.S. telecommunications products manufacturer;
  • Counsel U.S. and foreign shippers on U.S. Customs and Border Protection import issues and represent companies in investigation and enforcement proceedings before CBP and the U.S. Court of International Trade;
  • Represent foreign corporation in suit commenced against CBP and defense of CBP investigation. Successfully avoided duty penalties and currently seeking judgment at Court of International Trade upholding client’s view of the proper classification of the product and a refund of nearly $2,000,000;
  • Investments by Australian venture capital firms in a U.S. technology company;
  • Strategic operational and tax advice to a U.S. importer of electronic products;
  • Representation of a United Kingdom technology company in establishing U.S. operations;
  • Establishment of UK subsidiary for a U.S. service provider;
  • Overseas financing for parties based in the Cayman Islands;
  • Joint venture between a Chinese manufacturer and a U.S. distributor;
  • Representation of a Scottish pharmaceuticals company in U.S. based clinical study agreements;
  • Resolution of source of origin and labeling problems, particularly with the import of goods from Latin America and the Far East;
  • Representation of clients who had goods seized when they were imported into the U.S.;
  • Assisted clients with NAFTA customs issues involving goods being imported into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico.

Our relationships with leading overseas law firms enhance our ability to serve our clients worldwide.  In addition, Eckert Seamans is a member of SCG Legal (formerly State Capital Group), which is comprised of 148 independent law firms in 82 countries.