Practices & Industries
International

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International

Billions of dollars have been made by companies around the world using the legal services of Fredrikson & Byron’s International Department. From offices in the U.S., Mexico and China, our attorneys have advised on successful business transactions in 10 languages in more than 40 countries.

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Richard Weiner

Email: rweiner@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7009

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Hear Rich Weiner’s thoughts regarding the global supply chain and Dealing with Tariffs in the Era of Trump

For a recording of the conversation for business contingency planning for companies impacted by Brexit, click here.

Learn more about current legal and tax issues involved with conducting business in Canada in our Doing Business in Canada Presentation.

To learn more about transactions in Asia, Latin America and the European Union, see our Cross-Border M&A Seminar Recording.

What We Do

We combine an in-depth knowledge of legal systems around the world, our vast linguistic capabilities, and decades of experience doing business overseas to assist companies in a broad spectrum of foreign transactions, including commercial and financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, real estate, labor and employment, distribution of goods and services, sales networks, franchising, strategic alliances, joint ventures, partnerships, litigation, arbitration, intellectual property, technology, anti-corruption, trust and estate planning, customs, and immigration. Since 1986, our legal specialists from North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia have successfully negotiated and concluded hundreds of business transactions for American and foreign companies of virtually every size, from small and mid-size private companies to Fortune 500 companies, that desire to develop and expand their international business.

Experience

The following is a sampling of the types of transactions that the International Department assists with around the world:

Advised U.S. energy company on the design, manufacture, installation and sale of its equipment in 25 countries around the world. Our involvement has included drafting and negotiating contracts, intellectual property protection, international tax structuring and cross-border employment law issues.
Assisted a U.S. restaurant franchise company in expanding its franchise concept to 12 countries overseas. We advised on international franchise matters, foreign government registration issues, international tax planning, and preparation of the franchise documents.
Assisted a U.S. cosmetics company in the development and expansion of its distribution network worldwide. We worked on negotiating and drafting distributor and sales representative agreements, customs matters, foreign registration issues, foreign intellectual property protection and tax planning.
Assisted a U.S. real estate developer in establishing and developing real estate projects throughout Latin America. Our involvement included foreign real property issues, foreign government registrations, and approvals and preparation of purchase agreements and development contracts.
Represented a U.S. company that acquired companies in Europe through its European subsidiary. Our involvement included formation of the European subsidiary, due diligence on the acquisition targets, drafting and negotiation of the purchase agreements and related employment agreements, amendments of the organizational documents of the acquisition targets post-closing, and cooperation with local notaries to effect the necessary shareholder resolutions and post-closing registrations in the local commercial register.
Represented a European conglomerate that acquired the assets of a U.S. manufacturing company. Our involvement included company registration, due diligence, environmental issues, employee benefit plans, transferring employees, tax issues, intellectual property, and drafting and negotiating the purchase agreement.
Represented a European technology company that wanted to acquire technology from a U.S. company. We assisted in business and tax planning, company registration, financing, intellectual property issues and acquisition documents.
Represented an Asian manufacturer that wanted to establish a North American distribution base for its products. We assisted with the tax planning and structuring and with drafting the contract with a U.S. warehousing company to store and ship the Asian company’s products.
Advised a European energy company that wanted to establish a U.S. subsidiary on entity structuring, tax matters, labor matters and lease and commercial contract matters.
Represented a Middle Eastern company that wanted to establish a U.S. subsidiary to conduct financial operations in the United States. We structured the entity, drafted and negotiated leases, and advised the company on regulatory and licensing matters and on general commercial contracts.

News & Articles

U.S. Trade Update

August 28, 2019

By Robert M. Oberlies and Jackson Guo

China’s Ministry of Finance announced new tariffs of between 5 percent and 10 percent on $75 billion worth of imported goods from the United States, affecting products in the Midwestern states and deepening tensions between U.S. and China.

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The Anticorruption Initiative Under the USMCA

June 19, 2019

By Carolina Rodriguez

What are the USMCA’s anti-corruption provisions and how can Mexico use them to fight pervasive corruption?

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Global Supply Chain Trends and Developments: Asia and Latin America

May 14, 2019

On June 18, 2019, our International Group hosted a seminar to discuss the health of U.S. manufacturing and sourcing in Asia and Latin America and recent country-specific trends.

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Trade Sanctions Enforcement in the Era of America First

December 10, 2018

By Dulce J. Foster

The arrest of Meng Wanzhou, one of China’s leading tech executives, highlights the broad reach of U.S. sanctions and the increasing boldness with which the U.S. government is acting to control the conduct of foreign actors. But U.S. companies engaged in global trade should also remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid tripping over the lines.

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U.S. Begins Collecting Section 301 Duties on Products of China Origin

July 6, 2018

By Robert M. Oberlies & Jessie Lu

The U.S. government’s first tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese imports come into effect on July 6, 2018.

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Nexus in a Post-Wayfair World

June 22, 2018

By Masha M. Yevzelman & Thomas R. Muck

A merchant of goods and services that makes sales in multiple states is no longer required to have physical presence in a state in order to be subject to sales and use tax in that state.

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Contingency Planning for Businesses Impacted by Brexit

March 28, 2018

On May 1, attorneys from Fredrikson & Byron’s International Practice and UK law firm Walker Morris provided a general update on the Brexit process and a discussion of the practical issues companies should identify.

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Mexico Update – Increase on Export Duties and Amendment to PROSEC Program

November 7, 2017

By Luis G. Reséndiz

Citing current imbalances on the steel industry, the Mexican government increased the import duties on 97 customs tariff classification codes of iron and steel products by 15 percent.

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Doing Business in South Africa

September 18, 2017

On October 24, our International Group hosted and participated in a Doing Business in South Africa seminar with various local and national dignitaries.

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Being Strategic About Foreign Patent Filing

September 18, 2017

By Ryan M. Spanheimer

Being strategic about where to pursue foreign patent protection can go a long way in efficiently using available resources while still acquiring meaningful protection for an invention.

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Conducting Business in Canada

May 24, 2017

Join Fredrikson & Byron on June 22 for an interactive discussion on the current legal and tax issues involved with conducting business in Canada.

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Key Issues in Cross-Border M&A

March 3, 2017

On April 11, 2017, attorneys from Fredrikson & Byron’s International practice explored some of the key issues in cross-border transactions in Asia, Latin America and the European Union.

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Trends in Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management

December 12, 2016

On January 19, 2017, Fredrikson’s International attorneys presented on the evolving regulatory and business environment for manufacturing and supply chain management in Asia and Latin America.

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Impact of New Cybersecurity Law on Foreign Companies in China

December 5, 2016

By Robert M. Oberlies & Jessie Lu

On November 7, 2016, China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China (Cybersecurity Law). The Cybersecurity Law will take effect on June 1, 2017.

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Congress Averts Government Shutdown, Extends Immigration Programs to December

October 17, 2016

By Immigration Group

The Immigration-related programs extended by the bill include E-Verify, EB-5 regional centers, EB-4 non-ministerial religious workers and Conrad 3 for J-1 medical workers.

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New Regime for China Foreign Direct Investment

October 13, 2016

By Robert M. Oberlies & Jessie Lu

On October 8, 2016, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued interim measures further stream-lining the process for establishing companies in China and related corporate changes. Find out how this will impact companies doing business in China and future investment.

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What Companies Should Know About the New ISO Anti-Bribery Standard

August 9, 2016

By Dulce J. Foster

Global companies in the United States have an uneasy relationship with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Most recognize that corruption can be damaging to business, but decry the statute as unfair: Because the United States is more aggressive about enforcing its anti-corruption laws than other countries, U.S. companies are more likely to be prosecuted for bribing foreign officials. The FCPA effectively tilts the playing field against us in foreign business transactions. But the global landscape gradually may be changing. Corruption prosecutions outside the U.S. are becoming more common, and many foreign governments have signaled a change in perspective by enacting new and stricter anti-corruption laws.

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Narrow Window Opens to Make Any Fixes to EU Community Trademark Registrations

April 18, 2016

By Cynthia A. Moyer

Important changes in the regulations governing European Union Community Trademarks (formerly CTMs, now called EUTMs) may affect the scope of your trademark protection for CTM applications filed before June 22, 2012.

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Attorneys Thomas Henke & Evan Berquist Join Fredrikson & Byron

June 22, 2015

Attorneys Thomas B. Henke and Evan C. Berquist have joined Fredrikson & Byron. Henke is an officer in the Compensation Planning & Employee Benefits and the Business & Tax Planning Groups. Berquist is an associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities and International Groups.

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Update on New Maquiladora Requirements

March 21, 2014

By Luis G. Reséndiz

Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT) has signaled that intends to apply the new maquila requirements strictly. Companies using a maquiladora structure that are selling part of their production in Mexico, earning part of their income from non-maquila activities, or that otherwise do not fully comply with the new requirements must take action. All maquiladoras must be in full compliance with the new requirements by July 1, 2014.

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Mexico Update – Maquiladoras – Tax Reform/Presidential Decree

January 7, 2014

By Luis G. Reséndiz

On December 26, 2013, the president of Mexico published a decree granting tax incentives to the maquiladora industry. The decree lessens the impact of some of the changes under the tax reform. The decree became effective on January 1, 2014. Read more for a summary of important aspects of the decree.

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Living Under the H-1B Cap – Alternative Visa Options and Strategies for Employing Foreign Nationals in the U.S.

March 1, 2012

By Loan T. Huynh

The H-1B visa is commonly known as the “workhorse” of U.S. work visas as U.S. companies rely on it more than any other visa to employ foreign workers in the U.S.

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Doing Business in Brazil

December 1, 2011

By Patrick J. Kelly

Everyone who has followed events in Brazil over the years has heard year after year that the country was on the verge of emerging as an international economic powerhouse. While it took a while for Brazil to finally emerge, it is certainly the case today that it has arrived, and U.S. manufacturers looking for new markets can no longer have serious aspirations in Latin America without having a Brazil strategy.

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Reporting Foreign Financial Accounts: IRS Announces New Voluntary Disclosure Program

February 1, 2011

By Masha M. Yevzelman

Since 1970, the Bank Secrecy Act has required U.S. persons who have in aggregate more than $10,000 in foreign financial accounts to report certain information about those accounts to the Department of the Treasury using Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).

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