1. Industries & Practices

International Trade & Investment

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Cross-border opportunity increasingly depends on navigating customs, sanctions, trade policy, anti-corruption, investment review, forced labor, immigration, and international dispute risk.

Overview

International trade and investment matters arise in a business environment where borders, markets, supply chains, and regulatory requirements increasingly overlap. Cross-border activity can require attention to customs and import compliance, global trade policy, export controls, sanctions, international trade litigation, anti-corruption, forced labor, immigration, and investment review.

ArentFox Schiff advises clients on international trade and investment issues involving customs and import compliance, global trade policy, international trade litigation, export controls and sanctions, anti-corruption, forced labor, immigration, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Our Focus

Clients engaged in international commerce must often manage legal issues that span regulatory compliance, policy advocacy, commercial movement of goods or people, investment review, disputes, and enforcement risk. Matters may involve government authorities, cross-border transactions, international counterparties, foreign counsel, and business decisions that require coordinated advice across jurisdictions.

ArentFox Schiff works with clients on international trade litigation, export controls and economic sanctions, customs and import compliance, international arbitration and dispute resolution, logistics and transportation, immigration, CFIUS, Canada-US cross-border business affairs, corporate social responsibility, forced labor, global trade policy, international anti-corruption and FCPA matters, and the OECD complaint process. The International Trade & Investment group also works with attorneys across several US offices and oversees a network of foreign correspondent counsel for local matters in other countries.

Focus Areas

In International Trade & Investment, we support clients with:

What We Do

  • Advise on customs and import compliance matters.
  • Counsel clients on global trade policy issues.
  • Handle international trade litigation matters.
  • Advise on export controls and economic sanctions.
  • Counsel on international anti-corruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters.
  • Advise on international arbitration and dispute resolution matters.
  • Support matters involving logistics and transportation.
  • Advise on immigration issues connected to international business matters.
  • Counsel on CFIUS matters.
  • Advise on Canada-US cross-border business affairs.
  • Counsel on corporate social responsibility and forced labor matters.
  • Assist with OECD complaint process matters.
  • Coordinate with attorneys across US offices and foreign correspondent counsel for local matters in other countries.

Who We Help

  • Companies engaged in international trade
  • Businesses making or receiving foreign investment
  • Organizations managing cross-border supply chains
  • Companies facing customs or import compliance issues
  • Businesses subject to export controls or economic sanctions considerations
  • Entities involved in international trade litigation, arbitration, or dispute resolution
  • Companies addressing global trade policy, anti-corruption, FCPA, forced labor, CSR, CFIUS, or OECD complaint process matters
  • Businesses with Canada-US cross-border business affairs or local matters in other countries
  • Entities with foreign nationals working in the United States or visiting the United States

How We Can Help

Organizations may seek legal guidance when:

  • Evaluating customs or import compliance obligations.
  • Responding to export controls or economic sanctions questions.
  • Addressing international trade litigation or dispute resolution needs.
  • Navigating global trade policy developments.
  • Assessing international anti-corruption or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues.
  • Considering CFIUS issues in cross-border investment matters.
  • Managing Canada-US cross-border business affairs.
  • Addressing corporate social responsibility or forced labor issues.
  • Petitioning for foreign nationals to work in the United States or travel on business to the United States.
  • Engaging local counsel for matters in other countries when foreign law support is needed.

Our Experience

ArentFox Schiff advises clients across a range of international trade and investment matters. The practice draws on attorneys in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, and oversees a network of foreign correspondent counsel to assist clients with local matters in other countries.
Representative areas of work: 

  • International trade litigation matters.
  • Export controls and economic sanctions matters.
  • Customs and import compliance matters.
  • International arbitration and dispute resolution matters.
  • Logistics and transportation matters.
  • Immigration issues connected to international business matters.
  • CFIUS matters.
  • Canada-US cross-border business affairs.
  • Corporate social responsibility and forced labor matters.
  • Global trade policy matters.
  • International anti-corruption and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters.
  • OECD complaint process matters.
  • Coordination with foreign correspondent counsel for local matters in other countries.

Key Contacts

View Our Attorneys

FAQs

What issues can arise in international trade and investment matters?

International trade and investment matters may involve customs and import compliance, global trade policy, international trade litigation, export controls, economic sanctions, anti-corruption, FCPA, CFIUS, forced labor, immigration, and cross-border disputes.

When might a company need export controls or sanctions guidance?

A company may need guidance when business activity, transactions, counterparties, goods, services, technology, foreign national employees, or destinations raise export controls or economic sanctions questions.

When might a company need international trade litigation advice?

A foreign producer, U.S. producer, U.S. importer, or purchaser may need advice in determining whether the product at issue is within the scope of an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or in opposing or supporting the imposition of antidumping or countervailing duties on a specific product. 

How can customs and import compliance affect cross-border business?

Customs and import compliance can affect the movement of goods across borders and may require attention to legal requirements, documentation, supply chain practices, and government interactions.

How does the practice support matters outside the United States?

The International Trade & Investment group works  oversees a network of foreign correspondent counsel to assist clients with local matters in other countries.