INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS

Experience in international business transactions in Canada, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

It may be uncomfortable to enter a foreign market to do business. Whether that foreign market is here in the U.S. or in another country, we can help you navigate the legal landscape to help your business grow and succeed.

Some Of the Things That We do:

Mergers & acquisitions

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Joint Ventures

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Technology transfers and licensing

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Debt and equity financing

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Contracts and commercial agreements

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International trade compliance matters

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Representation of U.S. companies investing abroad

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Representation of non-U.S. companies investing in the U.S.

Our International Clients

We have represented businesses (small businesses, medium-size and public companies) throughout the country and world-wide. Some of those clients include:

Sapphire crystal manufacturers (Illinois; China; Ukraine)

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Natural wine maker (France)

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Diamond hunters in Africa (not a video game or a movie)

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Medical equipment company (Ukraine)

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Regional healthcare organization (Saudi Arabia)

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National banks and lenders (Asia; Canada; California)

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Builders and developers (throughout the US);

Privately held conglomarate (Illinois)

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Buyers and sellers in real estate disputes with agents, escrow companies, surveyors (Illinois, Florida, and nationwide)

Foreign Investors in Real Estate- Special Tax Implications

Real estate market is booming, and international investors are joining the wave. But before you celebrate a successful sale, there's an important tax hurdle to be aware of: the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA).

Social Engineering Scams: Insights from a Legal Practitioner

In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, social engineering scams stand out as one of the most insidious forms of attacks. Cybercriminals adeptly manipulate human behavior, emotions, and motivations to exploit the weakest link in cybersecurity - us. Concerningly, none of the data safeguards can protect us against social engineering scams. As a lawyer, I idenitfy scams and, as a result, prevent clients from getting scammed. In this blog, I'll explore the dangerous combination of social engineering and sophisticated technology, discuss a report by Proofpoint, and present examples of how lawyers can assist in identifying and avoiding social engineering scams.

FAQ

Can business owners hide their identity?

Yes. Some states do not ask for identity of business owners or members of LLCs at the time of business registration. However, effective January 1, 2024, identities of owners of private companies will have to be reported to the federal government in a separate filing as part of a Corporate Transparency Act requirement. The information will be maintained by FinCEN with access limited to federal agencies, state agencies with a court order, and financial institutions with the consent of the company. FinCEN is working on an additional rule regarding access to these records. (Posted, November 7, 2022).

On March 1, 2024, an Alabama federal district court ruled the law that was designed to crack down on illicit shell companies and combat financial crime is unconstitutional. However, not much has changed for most small businesses, in that the ruling, which is expected to be appealed, applies to 0.1% – 0.2% of the over 30 million small businesses, those who are members of the National Small Business Association (NSBA).

In a separate but related case of Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland, the Court will hear oral arguments scheduled for March 25, 2025, which should provide more clarity regarding the reporting requirements moving forward.

Our firm maintains an anti-money laundering policy and performs thorough due diligence on each shareholder, officer, member, or owner of a to-be registered business.

How can I tell if an offer to buy my timeshare in Mexico is a scam?

If an offer to buy your timeshare came unsolicited, it is likely a scam. It is difficult to identify a sophisticated timeshare scam when these scam artists are hiding behind real identities of registered businesses and licensed professionals. We can help you identify a timeshare scam.

If you have already wire transferred money to a foreign bank account, you should promptly report the scam to the FBI, which has a dedicated internet crimes unit. Please do not use services of recovery companies, in that the FBI has identified instances where recovery companies have a connection to the fraudulent resale companies. Consequently, timeshare owners are being scammed twice by the same people.

On our part, we can file a state or federal lawsuit to ascertain identities of these scam artists, and then work with local counsel in the country where scammers reside to negotiate a settlement directly with them. Litigation encompassing foreign jurisdictions is expensive, and it should only be considered if you lost a significant amount of money.