International Legal Issues for Startup E-Commerce Businesses
A basic list of law related questions we typically grapple with when assisting e-commerce companies that are starting to sell internationally over the internet.
China Scams: The Holiday Edition
One of our oldest and most cherished traditions is to write about China scams at the end of every year. We do this because history shows this is the biggest month for them. Scammers increase their activities at the end of the year, hoping to be less noticed/less examined due to the usual end of
Does U.S. Trademark Law Apply Worldwide?
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a trademark infringement case arising under the Lanham Act that has huge implications for manufacturers and sellers of products based outside the U.S. The case is Hetronic International, Inc. v. Hetronic Germany GMBH, et al. The case arises from a $114 million judgment for an industrial
Private Equity Deals Involving China Assets: Lawyers and Rep & Warranty Insurance
PitchBook reports that even though 2022’s dry powder was lower than in either 2020 and 2021, a significant amount of capital has been deployed and remains to be deployed, including in deals involving Chinese companies and assets in China owned by U.S and non-Chinese companies. We know this because we are part of some of
Doing Business Internationally: The Legal and Tax Effects
You should involve an international business lawyer and an international accountant or CPA as soon as you begin thinking about expanding abroad to a new market. Many lawyers and accountants would prefer to have a 20 minute conversation at your early stage to help you avoid many obvious and immediate issues rather than receive a frantic call six months later when you have run into trouble. You should get comfortable with asking these types of questions as early as possible.
International Trade and IPR: Trademarks, Copyrights, and Patents
Intellectual Property and United States Customs 1. Trademarks and U.S. Customs Trademarks are defined in U.S. law as a word, name, symbol, device, color, or combination thereof used to identify and distinguish goods from those manufactured or sold by others and to indicate the origin and source of goods, even if said source is unknown.
China's Latin American Ground Game and YOUR Business
China is responding to its ongoing tension with the US and EU in some surprising ways – including setting up manufacturing and distribution hubs in Mexico and increasing its involvement in Latin America. What does this have to do with your business? More than you think.
Mexico for China Managers, Part 4: A Guide to Cross-Culture Negotiation
Western managers with China experience know the challenges (and risks) that come with cross-border negotiations. Those considering a move to Mexico will have to navigate a new set of cultural adjustments.
U.S. Import Practice Tips to Mitigate Compliance Risk
The shift away from the unipolar and free trade-oriented world of the 1990s and early 2000s to the peer competition-driven managed trade and industrial policies of today has resulted in an increasingly restrictive and protected U.S. import environment. The significantly stepped-up enforcement activity that characterizes this trend has, in turn, increased compliance risk for U.S. importers. This post will attempt to help U.S. importers mitigate some of that compliance risk through a set of up-to-date import practice tips.
Mexico for China Managers, Part 2: China vs. Mexico as Supply Chain Hubs
With all that has been happening, the international manufacturing lawyers at my law firm have been getting a steady stream of phone calls and emails from companies looking to leave China and many of those companies are curious about Mexico.