Private International Law

Private international law governs the interaction between businesses and individuals who are located in different countries.  The field has grown tremendously in recent years, and is likely to continue to do so as the world continues to shrink.

Private international law is highly relevant to businesses and individuals who wish to import or export goods and services, to expand operations into new countries and regions, or whose clients are scattered around the globe.  The field also affects individuals engaged in cross-border transactions or litigation, on such matters as the enforcement of judgments, service of documents, or the taking of evidence.  Private international law is increasingly governed by regional and trade agreements which have highly technical regulations that define what activities may be carried out by businesses and individuals, and in what way those activities must be done.

The number of regional trade frameworks in place under the WTO is large, and it can be beneficial for any business seeking to enter a market governed by those agreements to obtain an assessment about their target market before going forward.

Some of the better known regional trade regimes are those governed by the EU/EFTA, Mercosur, NAFTA, CAN, CARICOM, and CACM.  If your business plans involve a market governed by these regimes, or to learn more about them, we invite you to click the corresponding links as you evaluate your options.  If your business plans involve a market that is not covered by these regimes, please contact my office directly for more information.

In addition to foreign regulations and treaty rules, there are domestic laws of the United States which are applicable to business transactions abroad involving U.S. citizen individuals or entities.

It is important to note that due to local and foreign regulations, transactions involving foreign countries may require the retention of local counsel in the foreign State in question, or of specialized local counsel if particular issues are likely to arise.  It may still be advisable to receive a prior assessment of the issues that may arise so that you may be better prepared as you allocate your resources.

If you or your business need assistance in the field of private international law, we invite you to contact us for a free initial consultation about your case.