International Law

Expanding into new markets, managing international operations, or moving goods across borders means navigating different legal systems, changing trade rules, and evolving regulatory requirements. Whether you’re investing abroad, entering the U.S. market, or managing a global supply chain, legal and business decisions rarely stop at one jurisdiction.

Dickinson Wright’s International Law team advises companies and investors on cross-border transactions, international trade and customs, foreign investment, regulatory compliance, and commercial disputes. With offices in key North American trade corridors and relationships with trusted local firms throughout Europe, China, the ASEAN region, Japan, India, and South Korea, we help clients manage international business with practical, coordinated legal counsel.

 

Our Team

Our international lawyers are recognized for their experience advising clients on complex cross-border matters and for their understanding of how legal systems, business practices, and cultural differences influence international transactions. Our team includes foreign-licensed lawyers, foreign legal consultants, and multilingual practitioners who regularly advise clients in the languages in which they conduct business. Members of the team are recognized by Chambers®, Super Lawyers®, Best Lawyers®, and other leading legal publications.

Key Practice Areas

Regional Capabilities

Canada: Our Canada-U.S. Platform integrates cross-border legal teams to provide seamless representation across both jurisdictions.

China & ASEAN Region: We advise clients on inbound investment into North America while assisting North American companies with operations and business expansion throughout China and Southeast Asia.

India: We help Indian companies expand into North America while advising U.S. and Canadian businesses operating in India on corporate, regulatory, and transactional matters.

Japan: We provide long-standing legal counsel to Japanese companies doing business throughout North America across corporate, finance, intellectual property, immigration, and real estate matters.

South Korea: We assist Korean companies and North American businesses with cross-border transactions, commercial disputes, and investments involving the automotive, medical device, and consumer products industries.

Representative Matters

• Litigated major international commercial disputes in high-profile arbitrations involving claims exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars.
• Served as outside counsel to international companies entering the U.S. market, as well as U.S. companies expanding into Europe, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, and India.
• Represented more than 100 Chinese companies in greenfield and brownfield investment projects, including manufacturing facilities, research and development centers, corporate offices, site development, construction, and leasing matters.
• Represent Chinese original equipment manufacturers and suppliers operating in North America in corporate and commercial litigation matters.
• Counsel domestic operations of Canadian and other international businesses on customs and trade compliance, corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, immigration, intellectual property protection, and economic development incentives.
• Assisted Indian companies entering the U.S. market and advised North American businesses expanding operations into India.
• Represented a patent owner in worldwide patent infringement litigation involving cellular network infrastructure in the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan.
• Served as lead counsel before the U.S. International Trade Commission in a patent infringement matter involving graphical user interface technology for portable electronic devices.
• Represent multinational employers in obtaining employment-based temporary and permanent visas for executives, managers, technical professionals, and other key personnel.
• Advised clients on inbound U.S. investments involving China, including tariffs, export controls, the Export Administration Regulations, the Export Control Reform Act, the Trade Expansion Act, and matters involving the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
• Represented global vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, and automotive companies in manufacturing, supply chain, and distribution matters across multiple jurisdictions.
• Negotiated and executed a joint venture between an investment fund and the U.S. subsidiaries of Japanese and French financial institutions.
• Represented the Cypriot affiliate of an international investment group in private equity investments involving high-growth technology companies.
• Advise a leading European steel manufacturer on its expansion into the U.S. automotive supplier market, including related renewable energy operations.
• Counsel franchisors and franchisees on franchise disclosure and registration requirements, regulatory compliance, contract enforcement, trademark protection, and post-termination disputes.