Shapiro Sher counsels foreign governments and companies in international trade and commerce matters. Luis Guinot, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica and a partner in the Firm, heads this practice area. In all international business matters, we aggressively further our client’s interests by bringing together a small team of accomplished attorneys with extensive international experience.
Our attorneys have successfully counseled governments seeking to attract manufacturing and investment to their countries. We have represented governments in bilateral trade relations in the context of trade mechanisms such as the WTO and NAFTA. In addition, the Firm has extensive cross-border transactional experience, negotiating favorable outcomes on behalf of clients in complex commercial transactions. The Firm’s attorneys have handled numerous buy-sell agreements, liquidations, and intellectual property matters in foreign jurisdictions.
The Firm also assists businesses with legal matters inherent to trade strategies. From transactions to regulatory hurdles to litigation and administrative proceedings, our lawyers work closely with corporate leaders as they transact business in foreign countries. Additionally, Shapiro Sher’s litigation department has been instrumental in various disputes outside of the United States. In these and all international matters, the Firm’s representation is strengthened by deep understanding of applicable laws, regulatory issues, and political and cultural factors impacting our clients abroad.
Representative Matters
- Represented a Latin American nation in a high-stakes subsidy dispute in the agriculture sector, resulting in a favorable result in negotiations with world trade authorities.
- Assisted a government in its efforts to attract textile factories from abroad and position itself competitively for direct foreign investment; the Firm counseled the government on licensing and regulatory matters.
- Represented a textile manufacturer in negotiations with a major U.S. retailer.
- Advised Presidential candidates in Liberia and Madagascar.
- Handled protracted litigation concerning the state prison system in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In that matter, the Firm advised the Commonwealth in its efforts to bring its prisons into compliance with constitutional standards and defended the Commonwealth against suits brought by prisoners in federal court.