International

International

The development of global markets means that many of our clients carry out business in different countries.  To respond to their needs, we are members of international legal groups of law firms including LAWorld and Harmonie.  For example, LAWorld, a network of 43 independent, mid-sized firms, has member firms located in many major financial centers worldwide.  Through LAWorld, we are also affiliated with the Yangtzejiang Legal Network, which is comprised of 28 law firms in Mainland China and its border regions.  In this way, our clients are able to do business throughout much of the world with highly-qualified lawyers whom we know personally.

Our affiliations with the LAWorld, Harmonie and Yangtzejiang networks enable us to provide added value to our clients by referring them to a firm in a foreign jurisdiction, safe in the knowledge that our member colleagues offer similar levels of service to our own.  In particular, members typically have broadly based commercial, corporate and business practices with litigation capabilities and can help our clients with issues such as cross border transactions, business migration and international contracts.  To facilitate this international collaboration, our LAWorld colleagues share our strong commitment to the use of the latest technology.  In addition, all LAWorld member firms must have lawyers who are able to communicate effectively in English.

Representative Cases

  • Represented multi-national conglomerate in establishing product distribution in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America, including related intellectual property and financial issues.
  • Represented an internet company in litigation arising out of our client’s troubled acquisition of websites, domain names and proprietary technology of an internet advertising company active in 53 countries with exposure to 72 million users.   The case settled favorably after we obtained a series of temporary restraining orders prohibiting the former owners from implementing a threatened transfer of the websites and proprietary technology offshore or accessing its domain control panels through third parties.
  • Represented Seattle based garment industry firm in structuring business relationships and strategic alignments with manufacturers located in Korea and the Philippines.
  • Represented Taiwan based manufacturing company in establishing base of operations in U.S. through acquisition of commercial real estate in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Represented a Seattle based company in negotiating a partnership buy-out of a Korean investor.
  • Represented a Hong Kong based manufacturer of specialty bags, backpacks and related items with formation of a new business entity in Washington and U.S. product distribution issues.
  • Defended the leading manufacturer of digital multimeters in France against color-combination-related trade dress claims brought by the largest manufacturer of digital multimeters in the United States.  The plaintiff  claimed that our client infringed trademark rights that it had developed in color scheme.  The case settled on the eve of trial.  Our client acquiesced to the plaintiff’s trade mark rights in the United States in exchange for a perpetual, paid up license that allowed it to continue to use its traditional corporate colors on certain key products lines.