International Law

The strategic decision to enter a foreign market presents an executive management team with a challenging set of critical decisions which often alters dramatically a firm's culture and business prospects. Matters such as understanding thoroughly the served foreign market, its competitive landscape, cultural differences, product positioning, comparative law issues, and of course, the structure of and the financial valuation of the chosen business collaboration all come to bear upon a cross border market entry.

Keevican Weiss & Bauerle has extensive experience in facilitating and enabling successful collaborations between U.S. and foreign enterprises. The Firm's cross border services encompass the entire foreign market entry process, ranging from an initial onshore market entry to the establishment of a stable and far reaching permanent business operation. The Firm's services derive from its extensive experience with complex international law and business matters as well as assisting with critical post-acquisition integration matters. The Firm routinely calls upon its extensive network of contacts in business, government, and technology sectors across the globe. KWB also firmly believes that bridging cultural differences are critical to any form of cross border collaboration, particularly upon a post-acquisition basis. The Firm's sensitivity to and knowledge of various foreign cultures and business practices are of significant value in the establishment of successful cross border alliances.

The Firm has represented U.S and foreign enterprises engaged in cross border trade in over 40 countries across five continents. Our international services encompass the entire range of cross border development from market entry to establishment of permanent operations to post-acquisition transition management. For this purpose, the Firm assists its clients with respect of the following key aspects of international business operations and strategic investments:

Onshore Formation / Choice of Entity

• Choice of business form
• International tax planning
• Expatriate and host country human resource matters

Foreign Sales and Distribution Channels

• Identify and conduct due diligence upon prospective foreign agency or distributor
• Negotiate and document operative agency and distribution agreements

Intellectual Property (IP)t

• Enforcement of IP across borders
• Cross border licensing agreements
• Negotiation and documentation of IP agreements

Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions

• Turn key capability
• Extensive due diligence covering entire spectrum of target's operations:
• Business strategy
• Foreign operations
• Technology
• Financials
• Intellectual Property
• Information Technology
• Sales and Marketing
• Manufacturing operations
• Human resources
• Negotiation of definitive acquisition agreement
• Management of external service providers
• Post closing integration with focus upon human resource strategies
• Interim management services at C-level with P&L responsibility until permanent management is in place
• Restructuring programs and change management
• Development of culturally sensitive Board of Directors

Keevican Weiss & Bauerle looks forward to sharing its experience and advice with clients grappling with the challenges of rapid growth, navigating international waters, undertaking cross border mergers or acquisitions, or facing difficult and complex comparative law problems.