GENERAL

The International Law Practice Group (the “Group”) of ALFA International was founded in 2004 to promote greater cooperation among the many international members The Group includes every non-U.S. ALFA International member and a small, but growing, number of American members. Multi-national clients receive the benefit of coordinated legal services across national boundaries.

FOCUS

In describing the focus of the Group, a simple phrase comes to mind: all things GLOBAL. More specifically, the Group concentrates on legal matters involving the laws or citizens (corporate or individual) of two or more countries. Such work might entail counseling a foreign-based multinational company on the domestic laws of a country in which the multinational seeks to invest or operate.  In this context, the Group coordinates multijurisdictional transactions world-wide when required, organizing our lawyers in different jurisdictions as one consolidated team on all aspects of the transaction. Subject matter experience within the Group includes:

• Mergers and acquisitions
• Flotation of corporations on main or alternative stock markets
• Foreign investment regulation
• General corporate governance
• Tax and tax planning
• Labor & Employment
• Franchising/distributorship agreements
• Technology transfers
• Intellectual Property
• NAFTA and other trade agreements
• Incorporations/registrations
• Immigration/visas
• Customs/duties
• Export/import regulation and agreements

ACTIVITIES

The Group held their first seminar in London in May 2004 and since then have traveled to Singapore, Chicago, Brussels and Mumbai for their yearly International Law Practice Group seminars.  These seminars feature ALFA International lawyers, clients and guest speakers from throughout Europe and the United States. A European Regional Meeting takes place every year and brings together member firms in Europe for a day of discussion and planning.  

Regional sub-groups like the European Committee meet regularly to discuss international legal issues and coordinate activity among nearby members. Lawyers within the Group are frequent speakers, panelists, and moderators at other ALFA International events and those of unrelated organizations, supplying international perspectives and commentary.

PUBLICATIONS
 
Lawyers within the Group contribute to many ALFA International publications on a practice specific basis.  In addition, the group published a Twenty Five Country Primer on Intellectual Property Laws & Regulations in 2007.  They have also released a Labor & Employment Primer entitled: AT WORK AROUND THE WORLD: A Primer of Labor and Employment Laws and Regulations (2006 and 2009 editions are available).

UPCOMING EVENTS

The 2010 International Law Seminar will be held in Paris, France on September 21-23, 2010.  For more information on this seminar click on the links below or contact Amy Halliwell, Director of Events & Member Services at ALFA International, at ahalliwell@alfainternational.com.