International Law
The International Law group is comprised of attorneys who have practical and personal knowledge and experience abroad. Our attorneys advise American and foreign businesses that have interests and operations in Latin America, the Pacific Rim, Europe, and other regions of the world. The services provided by our lawyers range from contract negotiations and project finance, to advising on free trade agreements, customs, and international intellectual property issues, to overseeing and managing litigation and due diligence investigations.
GRSM attorneys have advised clients involved in public competitive bids for contracts with foreign governments, public contract bid protests, contract drafting and negotiations with private companies, international joint ventures, and foreign investment in the United States. We also assist foreign companies seeking to do business in the United States, including establishment of representative offices and determination of whether their proposed activities constitute permanent establishments under applicable tax treaties, creation of domestic subsidiaries, negotiation of joint ventures and license agreements, and preparation of distribution agreements with U.S. distributors. We counsel foreign companies in complying with employment laws of the jurisdictions in which they establish their businesses and assist them with everyday legal requirements they encounter in expanding their operations in the United States.
We have direct experience in representing clients in due diligence, title and litigation searches in real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. We have extensive experience in drafting and negotiating transaction documents through all phases of complex projects for manufacturing and commercial transactions, private real estate development, as well as private and public infrastructure improvements.
Our attorneys have expertise in transnational licensing and distribution agreements, foreign sales representative agreements, agency representations, and registration and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Europe, Latin America and Asia; in dealing with United States Customs, application of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules, local content rules under NAFTA, and other aspects of import-export activity; and in dealing with intellectual property agencies abroad, including the European Union’s Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the European Patent Office (EPO), and government agencies in China and Hong Kong among others. The Chair of our IP Practice served 10 years as the General Counsel of a Hong Kong company with operations around the world. In that capacity he was responsible for the company’s legal affairs worldwide and managed its U.S. design facility. He is admitted as a solicitor to the High Court of Hong Kong, and does extensive work in the China trade for a variety of clients. He has also taught IP Treaty Law at the University of California Extension and presented on IP enforcement to the State Bar of California, Licensing Executives Association, and served on the China subcommittee for the International Trade Association.
Our team handles all aspects of compliance for our clients’ projects, including governmental approvals to do business, environmental, immigration, customs, import/export and land use.
GRSM attorneys also have experience with public sector entities involved in international finance, including the United States Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the World Bank, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the United States Agency for International Development. When foreign businesses seek capital in the United States, we advise them on compliance with the state and federal securities laws and assist them with private and public registrations of their securities.
GRSM lawyers have thorough experience managing different aspects of litigation involving foreign businesses and individuals. The litigation can be based either in a foreign country or in the United States. Our attorneys have been instrumental in providing legal, investigative, cultural and linguistic advice to U.S. companies and individuals involved in litigation in foreign countries, including collection matters and other commercial disputes. Our attorneys have retained and overseen local counsel in those matters, in an effort to keep litigation costs at a minimum, while at the same time making the legal rulings and procedures in that foreign country understandable to U.S. companies.
GRSM attorneys have served as lead counsel, and as part of a team, in litigation venued in the United States against foreign nationals and companies. We regularly represent foreign manufacturers in product liability, unfair competition, and intellectual property claims, and assist U.S. companies defending similar claims abroad. Our litigation attorneys also are very familiar with the treaties and accords that allow service of process and discovery against foreign nationals and can initiate and effectively control most investigations in foreign countries, while maintaining the attorney-client communication privilege. We are also experienced in handling international arbitration proceedings both in and outside of the United States.
GRSM advises international energy and technology clients regarding energy and green tech initiatives in the United States relevant to their U.S. business activities. The head of the Green Technology practice group is the nation’s only patent lawyer who is a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED®AP) certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.