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Find out more about Baker & McKenzie's 2007 World Trade Week.

Read about our
North American Customs practice group.

Specific members of the International Practice Group are also associated with the Firm's
inter-disciplinary U.S. Homeland Security group.

International Law Practice

Baker & McKenzie's U.S. International Practice Group was established specifically to assist corporations bridge those borders and navigate through the complex legalities of moving around the globe. Attorneys within the group have extensive experience in handling foreign business and legal proceedings in:

 

International Law Practice

Baker & McKenzie's U.S. International Practice Group was established specifically to assist corporations bridge those borders and navigate through the complex legalities of moving around the globe. Attorneys within the group have extensive experience in handling foreign business and legal proceedings in:
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Trade & Compliance

Members of Baker & McKenzie's U.S. International Practice Group are multicultural - not just as a group, but individually.  Each of our practitioners specializes in a specific region and/or country; has a legal education in the United States as well as from the country and/or region they represent; speaks the language; and has lived and worked in that area of the world, enabling them to understand the unique cultural differences and legal nuances behind foreign law

 

More importantly, attorneys within the group have a vast wealth of personal experience in handling the legalities associated with cross border operations - experience which enables them to avoid common pitfalls and hidden traps of cross border operations and to transcend the complexities of foreign and U.S. legal interaction. This personal experience and the cumulative knowledge of the group sets it above the competition and allows us to provide legal assistance through every step of the process - from initial paperwork to the final implementation. As dual, cross-cultural thinkers, we can ensure client satisfaction by maintaining personal control of each transaction from beginning to end.

 

As part of the world's largest law firm, the U.S. International Practice Group provides specialized legal assistance to U.S. companies operating abroad, as well as to foreign companies operating in the United States, in all areas of corporate law, including:

  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Joint ventures
  • Technology transfers
  • Contracts and agreements
  • Legal document translations
  • Tax planning
  • Investment/regulatory issues
  • Arbitration and litigation

Latin America

 

The Latin American Practice Group is committed to helping companies capitalize on business, trade and investment opportunities in the Latin American region. To fulfill this commitment, 30 legal experts advise and assist clients with laws, regulations, and policies of the Latin American countries.

 

All group members are fluent in English and Spanish, and several also speak Portuguese and other languages. In addition to mastering the dialects, we understand the various nuances of specific tones, words, and phrases and how their translation can affect business matters.   

 

Most every attorney in the group has also practiced law in Latin America, allowing us to better communicate legally and provide more focused strategic counsel across the board.

 

In an effort to keep abreast of new developments, our group is also closely integrated with the practices of the Firm's offices throughout Latin America, including those in:

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Mexico
  • Peru
  • Venezuela

 The Latin American Practice Group also communicates regularly with its clients through seminars and various publications.

 

Europe

 

The European Practice Group of Baker & McKenzie specializes in corporate law and tax matters in the European and North African communities.

 

Achieving practical solutions to business problems for more than a decade, our legal experts have practiced abroad and are fluent in several languages. These personal experiences have contributed to the understanding of local affairs, customs and cultural differences and how they can influence business.

 

With this knowledge, the European Practice Group can better determine the most appropriate course of action for each client, whether it involves a company restructure, cross-border transaction, or labor law issue.

 

In every case, it is imperative that our clients are aware of and understand each step of the legal process. That means keeping them well-informed along the way and taking them to the very completion of a project, not stopping midstream.

 

European jurisdictions currently covered:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • France
  • The Netherlands
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Ireland
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom

North Africa jurisdictions currently covered:

  • Algeria
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia

Asia Pacific

 

Legal assistance regarding China, India, Korea and Japan is provided by the Asia/Pacific Practice Group. Since its establishment, several U.S. multinationals, as well as many small and mid-sized companies have continued to seek the expert professional help of this group.

 

These clients continue to work with the Asia/Pacific Practice Group based on our expertise and understanding of the languages, distinct characteristics and traditional beliefs of each Asian jurisdiction and how they can affect legal and business transactions.

 

Among other accomplishments, most of our attorneys have studied in Asia for several years. In addition, many have been intricately involved with various governmental organizations, such as the Foreign Ministry of the PRC and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of PRC.
 
From translating joint ventures and other legal documents to handling trademark matters, the Asia/Pacific Practice Group works together with our extensive network of regional offices, as well as our U.S. embassy representatives, to provide punctual and effective business solutions every time.

 

Trade & Compliance

 

Baker & McKenzie's Trade and Compliance Practice Group provides unparalleled expertise in international trade regulation and corporate compliance. Working closely with the International Trade Regulation Practice Group, our practice can assist corporation on trade and compliance issues for almost any country around the world.

 

The group's trade law practitioners assist in counseling representatives of local organizations and multinational corporations in addressing and complying with trade and business laws and regulations applicable to businesses in a given jurisdiction.

 

The group is comprised of attorneys with backgrounds in trade, corporate and immigration law as well as engineering. It also includes trade consultants with expertise in Customs audit matters.

 

The international trade practice encompasses all aspects of the movement of goods and services in and out of the United States. We also handle extensive litigation in trade remedies, including customs laws and trade regulation, and U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty laws.

 

In the export business, our attorneys have considerable experience in the extraterritorial application of U.S. law pertaining to trade embargoes, trade sanctions generally, and anti-boycott regulations.

 

The practice also covers international corporate conduct, particularly compliance with:

  • The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • SEC disclosure
  • Internal control and record-keeping requirements
  • Foreign investment reporting statutes
  • Mail and wire fraud statutes
  • Money laundering statutes
  • Foreign bribery laws
  • Establishment of agency relationships
  • Corporate acquisitions
  • Joint ventures