Drinker Biddle provides the ground support necessary to ensure success in U.S. markets. We bring to bear decades of experience in spearheading international transactions, helping our clients formulate efficient business structures and make sense of the complex interplay of federal and state law, all the while utilizing our deep understanding of cultural and legal differences that can sometimes become obstacles to getting transactions done in a cost-effective manner. Our lawyers serve as lead counsel on major international matters, act as advisory liaison counsel between businesses and non-U.S. lawyers, chair in-bound transactions and advise our clients and non-U.S. lawyers on relevant aspects of U.S. law with respect to multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Our dedicated international team includes attorneys who speak foreign languages fluently, have been educated in law schools abroad and originally hail from other countries. In addition to being dual-qualified, some of our lawyers have practiced in other countries in addition to the United States, including England, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Korea, among other countries.
Whether our clients are located in the world’s largest commercial centers or its most far-flung corners, we build teams of lawyers who can most effectively represent their interests and provide them with the counsel necessary to seamlessly achieve business and legal goals, whether in the United States or abroad.
We are a member and an active participant in the World Law Group, a network of 51 leading law firms located in 40 countries around the world. Our partner, David Kay, OBE, is currently serving as the WLG President, and DBR partners have served as officers and directors of WLG for over 20 years, less than two years after its inception. Each World Law Group member firm has been selected for its excellent business reputation, its depth of commitment to international practice and its eagerness to assist other member firms in their international dealings. Our membership in the World Law Group allows us to provide first class, responsive representation to our clients throughout the world.
Commercial and Financial: Our lawyers have counseled international clients on an array of commercial issues, including incorporation, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, distributorships, and contract negotiations. We are experienced both with private company and negotiated public company transactions and work closely with our colleagues in other practice areas to structure and negotiate transactions efficiently. In addition, we have advised clients with regard to the risks associated with doing business in the United States and helped them secure appropriate protections through insurance and other risk avoidance mechanisms. Our financial and banking lawyers have handled myriad international financings and public offerings for our clients based both in the U.S. and overseas.
Customs and Trade: We not only assist with navigating the myriad customs and international trade laws governing the importation of goods, but also work with clients to capitalize on business opportunities created by various trade agreements, duty preference programs and customs procedures.
Securities: Our securities lawyers work with our clients to structure and negotiate business deals involving the purchase or sale of securities. They also guide our clients through the intricate system of modern-day securities regulations, ensuring compliance with day-to-day, but increasingly risky, regulatory requirements. We also counsel clients on strategies for avoiding or, if necessary, confronting problems raised by regulatory agencies.
Insurance Law: In 2012, the Firm opened a London office to provide our local clients with advice on U.S. insurance regulations and other matters of American law at the federal and state level.
Intellectual Property: We work with a number of cross-border clients to enhance their competitive positions through vigilant protection of copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other branding interests. In an effort to provide our clients with seamless global services, we have established relationships with intellectual property lawyers in jurisdictions throughout the world to coordinate maintenance and protection of our clients’ valuable intellectual property. We also help mine unused intellectual property assets for revenues through assignment, licensing or disposition worldwide.
Supply Chain: At Drinker Biddle, we understand that proper planning and legal advice can minimize the potentially adverse customs and international trade risks. Our lawyers help clients understand the tightening trade and commerce regulations governing international trade and work with them to design compliant business processes and procedures. Because we understand that our clients are being required to operate under tighter delivery schedules and with more diligent monitoring, these processes are designed to be easily integrated into existing business practices.
Labor & Employment: We advise international clients on all labor and employment issues that may arise as a result of doing business in the United States. We routinely counsel clients on labor issues and conduct trainings and audits to assure compliance. In addition, our robust employee benefits team has worked with a number of cross-border companies.
Risk Management: Drinker Biddle lawyers have a lengthy track record of success in product liability litigation for international clients marketing their goods to American consumers, and just as importantly, we have worked with companies to avoid litigation through comprehensive compliance policies, training programs and regular internal risk evaluations.
International Arbitration: Our lawyers have successfully represented clients in a number of international arbitrations, spanning a wide variety of industries. We are well-versed in the rules and procedures of many arbitral bodies and have worked within those structures to help clients resolve the disputes that can occur as a result of cross-border transactions. Our lawyers also have on-the-ground experience in many jurisdictions and are familiar with the interpretation and application of international arbitration rules and regulations. In addition, a number of our lawyers serve as arbitrators and have heard some of the most complex domestic and international arbitrations.