International Law

The International Practice Group at Gordon & Rees is comprised of attorneys who have practical knowledge and experience from practicing or working abroad, and who have been advisors to companies doing business in or expanding their operations into Latin America, Asia, and other parts of the Pacific Rim, Europe, and other regions of the world. We have attorneys who are admitted and practice in Central America and Hong Kong and who are fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French and other languages (staff have additional capabilities in Dutch and Cantonese).

Gordon & Rees is involved in many aspects of international projects including contract negotiations, project finance, financial restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, trade agreements, licensing and protection of intellectual property. We have advised clients involved in public competitive bids for contracts with foreign governments, public contract bid protests, contract drafting and negotiations with private companies, international joint ventures, and foreign investment in the United States. We have direct experience in representing clients in due diligence, title and litigation searches in real estate transactions in Mexico and other countries in Latin America. We draft and negotiate transaction documents through all phases of complex projects for private real estate development, as well as private and public infrastructure improvements. We handle all aspects of compliance for our client's projects, including: governmental approvals to do business, environmental, immigration, customs, import and land use. We also have experience with public sector entities involved in international finance, including the United States Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the World Bank, the US Trade and Development Agency and the United States Agency for International Development.

Our attorneys have expertise in transnational licensing and distribution agreements, foreign sales representative agreements, agency representations, and registration and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Europe, Latin America and Asia; in dealing with United States Customs, application of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules, local content rules under NAFTA, and other aspects of import-export activity; and in dealing with intellectual property agencies abroad, including the European Union's Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the European Patent Office (EPO), and government agencies in China and Hong Kong.

We work with clients engaged in, or affected by, the movement of goods, services, or capital across national boundaries. The Firm's lawyers have unique experience in cross-border litigation involving all issues arising out of business in which U.S. and foreign companies are involved. The multiple language capabilities of our staff and attorneys combined with extensive litigation experience provide for convenience and efficiency in handling cross-border matters.

The Firm has represented clients in complex actions involving embezzlement, non-payment by foreign distributors, labor disputes, creation and dissolution of maquiladora operations and disputes related to recovery by principals of their operations in the control of third parties, intellectual property prosecution and protection, and licensing and distribution disputes.

Gordon & Rees LLP is a member of MULTILAW, a multinational association of independent law firms. MULTILAW has 57 member firms in 45 countries, in over 100 commercial centers throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. As such, we are able to call on over 4,000 lawyers throughout the world to assist our U.S. clients concerning various matters.

Representative Cases

Panama and Central America

• Tourism Hotel and Marina Development Project. Representation of a client in the negotiation and drafting of agreements with the Inter oceanic Region Authority (ARI) of Panama for the financing, design, construction and operation of a large hotel, cruise ship marina and tourism resort in the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal.



• Costa Rica Real Estate Development. Represented and advised US investors in the acquisition of beach front property and development of condominiums in Ballena(Costa Rica).



• Cultural Center and Tourism Resort. Representation of a company for negotiations to secure a 40-year administrative concession from the Inter oceanic Region Authority of Panama for the design, construction and operation of a cultural center and mixed retail used commercial center and tourism resort. Draft and negotiate all financial, concession, design and construction agreements for project.



• Port Development Projects in Panama. Representation and Negotiation on behalf of the Government of Panama (Panama Maritime Authority) several concession contracts with international companies and local consortiums for the design, development, construction and operation port projects, including container terminals, fishing ports and cruise terminals.



• Construction and Engineering Contracts. Representation of a Taiwanese shipping line in the negotiation of construction contracts based on FIDIC with international construction and engineering firms, involving civil and dredging works, valued at 90 million dollars. Provided legal advice to the owner during the execution of the contracts to assure compliance by the contractors.



• Services to Ships (Bunkering) transiting the Panama Canal. Represent the largest independent marine fuel supplier in securing the required licenses and permit from the Ministry of Commerce in Panama to provide bunkering to ships transiting the Panama Canal.



• Bridge project. Represented a U.S. - Korean consortium in preparation and presentation of a proposal for the financing, design and construction of a new crossing over the Panama Canal to accommodate the construction of a third set of locks for the canal.



• National Legislative Assembly of Panama Complex. Represented a large U.S. engineering company in the preparation and presentation of a proposal to the Legislative Branch of the government of Panama on the international bid for the financing, design and construction of the new headquarters for the Congress of the Republic of Panama. Drafted and lead the negotiations with the attorneys for the Legislature and the Government of the Republic for the construction contract that was enacted as a law.



• Hospital and Health Management Organization. Represented a U.S. hospital administrator and construction consortium in preparation, presentation and proposal for the financing, design, construction and operation of a hospital facility for the implementation of an HMO method of delivery of medical products and services.



• Decontamination of the Panama Bay. Represented a consortium of U.S. and European companies in preparation of proposal, presentation and negotiation for an Inter-American Bank of Development financed project for the design, construction and operation of system of sewage treatment and processing plants for the decontamination of the Bay of Panama.



• Port Development Project in the Caribbean. Advised and participated on behalf of an international shipping line and port operator the negotiation with the Port of Authority of the Dominican Republic for the development of container port in said country. These negotiations included the assessment of domestic law and the advantages of the different proposed sites for the project (Haina, San Pedro de Macori, and others).

Mexico

• Restructure and acquisition of interest of US company in Mexican entities, including registration with Mexico's Foreign Investment Secretariat, trademark registration and immigration visas for foreign investors.



• Representation of US corporation engaged in negotiations for a US-Mexican joint venture to harvest, package and export fruits to the US and Japanese markets.



• Acquisition and development of property in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico developed into condominium building subsequently sub-divided and sold in time share regime.



• Representation of European designer clothing manufacturer in collection of debt from Mexican distributor and agent.



• Organization of processing facility and operations in Mexico for subsidiary of a U.S. company importing rubber gloves from Asia for sterilization and packaging for distribution worldwide.



• Preparation of documentation for contract proposals for supply of service on industrial gas turbine engines used in power generating facilities owned by the Mexican Comision Federal de Electricidad ("CFE"), and subsequent drafting and negotiation after award of contracts.



• Prepared documentation, organized and assisted in the implementation of a sales distribution network in Latin America for client manufacturing and selling sophisticated welding equipment.



• Drafted leases and assisted in temporary export of heavy earth moving equipment used by one of the largest Mexican construction companies in Baja California.

Asia

• Review of new administrative regulations for testing and composition of paint and paint products in the people's Republic of China.



• Coordination of global litigation in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and the U.S. over trademark and trade dress rights in the action figure toy market.



• International arbitration of licensing dispute between Canadian and Hong Kong-based companies involving personal watercraft.



• Negotiation and drafting of worldwide merchandise licensing agreements with major European, U.S., and Japanese automotive companies.



• Coordination of global trademark and copyright registrations in selected markets, including North America, Japan, and Europe.

• Prosecution of declaratory relief of non-patent infringement against claims of Dutch owner of patent for waste sorting and recycling machinery.

• False advertising litigation in federal court in Los Angeles between U.S. and Australian competitors in direct marketing distribution for hair removal products.