Foreign Legal Matters: Think Different

Home | China Law Blog | Foreign Legal Matters: Think Different Table of Contents Toggle I was deleting some old files this weekend and I came across the outline for a talk I used to give to mostly U.S. and foreign Bar Associations, entitled, What Lawyers Should Know about Representing Their Clients in Foreign Legal Matters. Though I have not given this talk for nearly a decade, all of it remains true and so I am publishing the core of it below. In re-looking at the title I used for this speech, and with the benefit of many years of hindsight, I wish I had subtitled it: "the biggest mistakes foreign lawyers make when representing clients with overseas businesses". Oh well. Here's the outline I used, with a few additions/clarifications in italics and some links to help those seeking additional information. This is very much a bare-bones outline, written for my eyes only, but it does highlight some of the most common and dangerous mistakes made by lawyers -- many of whom still seem to think that the laws in foreign countries "just can't be that different." Trust me, they can be and they often are. My goal with this talk was never to explain the laws in various countries so that they could handle all of their clients' foreign legal matters. More than anything, my goal was to get the lawyers in the audience to (with apologies to Apple and to grammarians everywhere) think different. I wanted to get the lawyers in the room (and I mean this literally, these talks being pre-COVID) uncomfortable about representing companies on foreign legal matters. I wanted their discomfort to get them not to lazily assume things. 1. Company Formation Spend after formation. Companies too often spend money too soon for their expenditures to apply to minimum capital requirement for new entities. When I would give this speech in the United States, I would use this to explain the concept of minimum capital. When I would give this speech in countries that have minimum capital requirements, I would explain how things work so differently in countries without this, especially since these talks were usually slanted towards U.S. law issues. Is it legal? On a number of occasions, my firm has been called in to register a legal entity overseas for a US company that has already spent substantial sums scoping out the market, without knowing that what they propose to do cannot be done by foreigners. 2. International Contracts Who's your counter-party? Spend a little, save a lot. Be diligent with your Due Diligence. Arbitration is the only solution, except when it's not. I just yesterday wrote here on how complicated it is to choose between arbitration and litigation in China contracts. Nearly all that I wrote about China in that post holds true in varying degrees for most countries. Can you say litigation carve out? Arbitration clauses ain't easy. How to get your Christmas lights before Christmas. The courts in many countries are of the view that if something is not in the contract, it essentially does not exist. Contract language/Governing Law/Arbitration language. Do not try this at home. 3. Protecting Your Intellectual Property Register early and often, except patents Make your NDAs NNN Agreements. It's more than just legal. 4. Joint Ventures Why, why, why? The Peoria test. Control is always critical yet nearly always illusory. 5. Employment Law How does lifetime tenure for everyone sound? Don't fool yourself. 6. Choosing Your Local Lawyer English and connections are often overrated. Lawyer ethics and confidentiality. Be careful. See The Attorney-Client Privilege Really Matters When Doing Business Internationally. 7. The law is everything and nothing. In this portion of my talk, I would very briefly talk about the importance of not taking things for granted in foreign countries. Any questions? Check Out Our China Law Services Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn E-mail Comment Dan Harris Dan Harris is a founding member of Harris Sliwoski, an international law firm where he mostly represents companies doing business in emerging market countries. Most of his time is spent helping American and European companies navigate foreign countries by working with the international lawyers at his firm in setting up companies overseas (WFOEs, Subsidiaries, Rep Offices and Joint Ventures), drafting international contracts, protecting IP, and overseeing M&A transactions. In addition, Dan writes and speaks extensively on international law, with a focus on protecting foreign businesses in their overseas operations. He is also a prolific and widely-followed blogger, writing as the co-author of the award-winning China Law Blog. 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