International Business Lawyers
Cross-Border Contracts, Import/Export Compliance, Foreign Investment, International Disputes, And Sanctions — Legal Coverage For Every Business Operating Across Borders.
Every international business transaction carries legal risk that domestic attorneys aren't equipped to handle alone. The wrong contract clause, an overlooked export control, a missed customs requirement, or a foreign jurisdiction dispute can shut down operations or expose your business to significant liability.
International business lawyers advise on the full range of cross-border legal matters — from drafting contracts that hold up in multiple jurisdictions to navigating OFAC sanctions, customs compliance, foreign entity formation, and international arbitration.
Free consultation. Flat-fee and legal plan options. All 50 states.
International Legal Problems Require International Legal Expertise.
Free Consultation. Business Lawyers In All 50 States.
How To Get An International Business Lawyer
Simple. Fast. No commitment required.
Most international law matters start with a consultation — understanding the legal landscape, risks, and options before committing to a course of action. The free consultation is where that starts.
Submit Your Details
Describe your international business legal matter — contract review, compliance question, dispute, foreign investment, or customs issue.
Attorney Calls Back In 10 Minutes
An international business lawyer calls back within 10 minutes during business hours — evaluates your situation and explains your options.
Legal Strategy Developed
Attorney develops the legal approach — contract review, compliance program, dispute strategy, or transaction structure — with transparent pricing before work begins.
Matter Resolved
Contract reviewed and negotiated, compliance program implemented, dispute resolved, or transaction closed — with ongoing legal support available through the business legal plan.
What Happens After You Submit
Fast. Confidential. No pressure.
Intake team reviews your international business legal matter
International business lawyer calls back within 10 minutes
Legal risks identified and options explained — no commitment required
Pricing quoted transparently before any work begins
You decide how to proceed — no obligation
Free. Confidential. No obligation.
What International Business Lawyers Handle
Cross-Border Legal Matters — Every Stage Of International Business
Cross-Border Contracts
- International supply and vendor agreements
- Cross-border distribution and licensing agreements
- Choice of law and dispute resolution clauses
- Force majeure and multi-jurisdiction enforcement
- International joint venture and partnership agreements
Import/Export & Trade Compliance
- Export control compliance (EAR, ITAR)
- Customs classification, valuation, and compliance
- Import tariff strategy and CBP disputes
- Free trade agreement qualification
- Trade compliance program development
Foreign Investment & Entity Formation
- Foreign entity setup and structuring in the US
- US business formation for foreign owners
- CFIUS review and foreign investment clearance
- Cross-border mergers and acquisitions
- International holding company structures
Sanctions & Regulatory Compliance
- OFAC sanctions screening and compliance
- FCPA (anti-bribery) compliance programs
- Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance
- Sanctions violation response and voluntary disclosure
- International data privacy compliance (GDPR, etc.)
International Disputes & Arbitration
- International commercial arbitration (ICC, AAA, LCIA)
- Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the US
- Cross-border contract disputes and breach claims
- Investment treaty arbitration
- Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments
International IP & Technology
- International trademark registration and protection
- Cross-border technology licensing agreements
- Trade secret protection across jurisdictions
- International software and SaaS agreements
- Cross-border data transfer agreements
Why International Business Law Requires Specialists
Domestic Business Attorneys Are Not Equipped For Cross-Border Legal Work
Jurisdictional Complexity
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A contract that's enforceable in the US may be unenforceable in the counterparty's jurisdiction. International business lawyers draft for enforceability in both — and advise on which jurisdiction's courts or arbitration forum to specify.
Regulatory Minefield
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Export controls, OFAC sanctions, FCPA anti-bribery rules, customs regulations, and foreign investment restrictions each carry criminal penalties for violations. Compliance requires attorneys who know the regulations — not just general business counsel.
Dispute Resolution Differences
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Suing a foreign counterparty in US court is often impractical — and vice versa. International arbitration clauses, choice of law provisions, and enforcement mechanisms must be built into contracts before a dispute arises, not after.
International legal mistakes are expensive. The right attorney prevents them. Free consultation — no commitment.
Why Our International Business Lawyers
Cross-Border Expertise Across Every Area Of International Business Law
International Law Specialists
Attorneys focused on cross-border business law — not general practitioners handling occasional international matters. Specialists in export controls, sanctions, arbitration, and cross-border contracts.
Flat-Fee And Legal Plan Options
Contract review and compliance consultations priced transparently — quoted before work begins. Monthly legal plan from $49/month includes designated international law consultations.
Fast Response For Time-Sensitive Matters
Customs holds, sanctions screening alerts, and contract signing deadlines don't wait. Attorney callback within 10 minutes for urgent international business matters.
US-Based, Globally Experienced
International business lawyers licensed in your state — with experience across the specific jurisdictions your business operates in. All 50 states covered.
Proactive Compliance Guidance
Identifying legal risk before it becomes a regulatory violation or dispute. International business lawyers review contracts, transactions, and compliance programs proactively — not just reactively.
Confidential Case Review
Attorney-client privilege from the first consultation. Cross-border transaction details, compliance concerns, and dispute matters handled with full discretion.
800+ Business Lawyer Network
Backed by a network of over 800 business lawyers and law firms. Average attorney experience of 22+ years. A+ BBB rated. Trusted by 140,000+ businesses.
International Business Law — Common Questions
"Do I need a lawyer to review international contracts?"
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Any contract with a foreign counterparty should be reviewed by an attorney familiar with both jurisdictions. Choice of law, dispute resolution, force majeure, and enforcement clauses that work domestically often fail internationally.
"What is OFAC sanctions compliance and do I need it?"
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OFAC administers US economic sanctions against specific countries, entities, and individuals. Any US business transacting internationally must screen counterparties against OFAC lists — violations carry criminal penalties regardless of intent.
"What's the difference between EAR and ITAR?"
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EAR (Export Administration Regulations) covers commercial goods and technology. ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) covers defense articles and services. ITAR compliance is significantly more stringent — violations carry criminal penalties up to $1 million per violation.
"Can a foreign company own a US business?"
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Yes — but certain industries require CFIUS review (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States). Technology, media, defense, and critical infrastructure companies face additional scrutiny. An international business lawyer structures the investment to minimize regulatory delay.
"How do I enforce a contract against a foreign company?"
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Enforcement depends on the contract's dispute resolution clause, the counterparty's jurisdiction, and any applicable treaties. International arbitration awards under the New York Convention are enforceable in 170+ countries — making arbitration clauses far more practical than litigation for international contracts.
"What is the FCPA and does it apply to my business?"
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The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits US companies and their agents from bribing foreign government officials to obtain business. It applies to any US company operating internationally — including through foreign subsidiaries, agents, and distributors. FCPA enforcement has resulted in penalties exceeding $1 billion for some companies.
International business legal questions answered in a free consultation — no commitment, no hourly clock.
International Business Law — When Specialist Counsel Made The Difference
Composite case examples. Individual results vary. No specific outcome is guaranteed.
"Our domestic lawyer said the contract looked fine. The international attorney found three clauses that would have been unenforceable."
We were entering a distribution agreement with a European supplier. Our regular business attorney reviewed it and approved it. We also had an international business lawyer review it — she found a dispute resolution clause that specified a European court with no US enforcement mechanism, a limitation of liability clause that wouldn't hold under applicable EU law, and an auto-renewal clause with a 180-day termination window. All three were renegotiated before signing.
— Composite case example, Texas
"We didn't know our product was ITAR-controlled. The attorney identified it before the shipment left."
We manufacture components that we considered purely commercial. A new export order flagged a question about end use. Our international business lawyer reviewed the product specifications and identified that one component fell under ITAR jurisdiction — meaning the export required a State Department license we didn't have. The shipment was held until the license was obtained. The attorney also helped us build a compliance program to screen future orders automatically.
— Composite case example, California
"The foreign supplier breached the contract. The arbitration clause we'd built in made the difference."
A supplier in Southeast Asia failed to deliver goods under a long-term supply agreement. Because the contract included an ICC arbitration clause with New York Convention enforcement rights, our international business lawyer was able to pursue arbitration efficiently. The award was obtained within eight months and enforced in US federal court against the supplier's US assets. Without the arbitration clause, pursuing the claim through foreign courts would have been impractical.
— Composite case example, New York
"Our compliance attorney flagged the counterparty as an OFAC-listed entity before we wired the funds."
We were finalizing a transaction with a foreign trading company when our international business lawyer ran a routine OFAC sanctions screen. The counterparty's parent company was on the SDN list — a connection that wasn't visible from the immediate entity name. The transaction was halted. The lawyer advised on voluntary disclosure procedures and helped us implement a proper screening protocol. Without that check, we would have committed a sanctions violation carrying potential criminal liability.
— Composite case example, Florida