International

We have devoted special attention to the interests of our U.S. clients doing business outside the United States as well as to protecting the U.S. interests of foreign companies. We regularly represent clients in international joint ventures and have established working relationships with foreign lawyers throughout the world to provide prompt and effective advice to clients contemplating business activities and transactions outside the U.S.

We regularly provide counseling to a substantial number of U.S. and foreign-based clients regarding the structure and terms of contracts for purchase, sale, and distribution of products and services, including distribution agreements, agency relationships, requirements contracts, technology licenses, manufacturing agreements, and supply contracts. This includes advice with respect to the application of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), creditors' rights, antitrust and trade regulation compliance, international sales conventions, and intellectual property protection. We also handle leasing, design, and construction agreements for U.S. companies throughout the world. We coordinate the completion of multinational transactions and agreements around the globe.

The practice areas where we regularly provide counseling, and where the firm has substantial depth of experience and resources, include the following:

  • mergers and acquisitions
  • technology development and strategic joint ventures
  • immigration and employment
  • commercial contracting, competition, and maritime law
  • environmental law
  • intellectual property protection and licensing
  • securities law
  • litigation, arbitration, and mediation
  • establishment of U.S. operations
  • leasing, design, and construction
    • Experience
      • Represented a NYSE company in the formation of a NAFTA joint venture with a German chemical company for the development of chemical compounds and biologicals, including structuring licensing arrangements for the use, disclosure and practice of technology contributed to and developed by the joint venture and its members.
      • Represented a NYSE company in all intellectual property aspects of the sale of its global textile colors business and European industrial colors business to UK public company, including numerous licensing arrangements.
      • Represented a major electric heating appliance manufacturer in connection with issues relating to its North American restructuring of United States- and Canadian-based affiliates.
      • Represented a large Canadian manufacturing company in connection with the listing of the company’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the related registration of the company’s common stock on Form 20-F under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      • Represented bottled water manufacturer in connection with the registration with the SEC of U.S. $100 million 11½% senior subordinated notes due 2007 and the guarantees on a subordinated basis by its subsidiaries, which notes and guarantees were exchanged for a like principal amount of notes and guarantees sold in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers through BT Alex.Brown and NatWest Capital Markets Limited, and in connection with its periodic reporting obligations with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      • Represented publicly traded European conglomerate in connection with office leasing in 26 countries and many states.
      • U.S. representation for leading aerospace company in production joint venture.
      • Representation of Dutch company in the food and beverage business in connection with the purchase of a majority interest in a U.S.-based beverage company.
      • Representation of U.S. subsidiary of a Scandinavian steel manufacturer in a technology joint venture with a $1 billion-plus agricultural equipment company.
      • U.S. counsel for global oil trading subsidiary of German holding company.
      • Representation of U.S. subsidiary of Australian company specializing in building products technology for civil construction and building development.
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    • News
      • January 22, 2018

        Kathy Porter and Mike Wirvin Contribute to Mills & Reeve Study on International Opportunities for Middle Market Companies

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          Kathy Porter and Mike Wirvin Contribute to Mills & Reeve Study on International Opportunities for Middle Market Companies

          International Practice Group Co-chairs Kathleen M. Porter and J. Michael Wirvin contributed the “Focus on the US” portion of Expanding International Horizons, part two of Mills & Reeve LLP's Defining Gravity study. The British law firm, headquartered in London, is conducting the study “to help explain how medium sized businesses can achieve high performance in complex and uncertain times.” In the “Focus on the US” section of the report, Ms. Porter is quoted as saying that “The US is the UK’s number one export market and remains a very attractive location for UK businesses seeking to expand internationally. The diversity, population, and sheer size of the country continues to offer inbound businesses a large customer base with serious purchasing power.” Click here to read the full report.

      • September 15, 2016

        Jeff White Presents at ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting Regarding Manufacturing Issues

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          Jeff White Presents at ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting Regarding Manufacturing Issues

          Jeffrey J. White, a partner and chair of Robinson+Cole's Manufacturing Industry Group, spoke at the American Bar Association's Business Law Section Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 8, 2016. He presented "Key Considerations for Foreign Manufacturers That Wish to Sell Products to the United States" for the meeting of the International Expansion and Cross-Border Transactions Subcommittee. As part of his presentation, he examined the business and legal issues that foreign manufacturers face when establishing a presence in the United States. Mr. White currently serves as the primary external counsel for several foreign manufacturers that have subsidiaries in the United States. 

      • April 22, 2016

        Kathleen Porter Presents on International Panel at ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting

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          Kathleen Porter Presents on International Panel at ABA Business Law Section Spring Meeting

          Business transactions and intellectual property lawyer Kathleen M. Porter spoke on April 9, 2016, at the American Bar Association's Business Law Section Spring Meeting in Montreal about the exhaustion of Intellectual Property (IP) rights from a U.S. perspective. In her session, " Exhaustion of IP Rights from an International Perspective," Ms. Porter, and her co-presenters from leading law firms in Canada, India, Germany, and Scotland, discussed the extent to which the sale of an IP-protected product abroad can exhaust the IP rights over that product domestically. In particular, they focused on similarities and differences between the laws of India, Canada, the European Union, and the United States as well as differences under a country's patent, copyright, and trademark law.

      • July 11, 2014

        Bill Sellay Participates in Transatlantic Business Forum

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          Bill Sellay Participates in Transatlantic Business Forum

          William T. Sellay, partner in the firm's Business Transactions Group and head of its International Group, represented the US legal perspective as a speaker and panelist at the Transatlantic Business Forum in Cambridge, England, on June 24, 2014. The program focused on the business and legal issues encountered by UK companies entering or expanding their businesses in the US. Mr. Sellay's presentation, "Taking your Technology to America – How to do it Right," addressed solutions to the most critical legal issues, based upon his more than 20 years of experience representing foreign companies in the US. Other speakers included representatives from KPMG Europe, Lloyds Banking Group, and Mills & Reeve; the Director General of the Institute of Directors; and Matthew Barzun, the US ambassador to the UK. The program also included case studies of US market entry by the managing director of ArmadilloLED, makers of LED lighting, and the CEO of CityJet, a UK regional airline.

      • June 6, 2012

        Intellectual Property and Technology Partner Discusses Exporting Medical Devices to Europe at Yale

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          Intellectual Property and Technology Partner Discusses Exporting Medical Devices to Europe at Yale

          Intellectual property and technology partner Kathleen M. Porter was a panelist for the discussion “How to Export Your Medical Device to Europe” at the conference “Europe: Your Gateway to Trade Opportunities” at Yale University on May 7, 2012. Representatives from medical device companies and senior officers from the U.S. Department of Commerce working in Europe attended the conference to discuss the economic climate in Europe and the types of trade opportunities available for U.S. products and services.Ms. Porter’s panel focused on how to build an effective overseas distribution network.
      • May 4, 2012

        Business Weekly Reports on William Sellay’s Presentation at Transatlantic Business Forum at Cambridge University

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          Business Weekly Reports on William Sellay’s Presentation at Transatlantic Business Forum at Cambridge University

          Business transactions partner William T. Sellay was again a speaker on “Doing Business in the U.S.” at the annual Transatlantic Business Forum at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, on March 8, 2012. Business Weekly (“the Voice of Europe’s Innovation Capital – the East of England”) reported in its March 9, 2012, story about the forum that “the do’s and don’ts of trying to penetrate American markets were brilliantly showcased by lawyers Graeme Menzies of Mills & Reeve, Bill Sellay of Robinson & Cole, and Gary Hanson of BDO, the international firm of accountants.”

          Mr. Sellay focused his remarks on the current environment for U.S. market entry, expansion opportunities, and the importance of a value equation to U.S. customers by providing several examples of companies in the United Kingdom who have enjoyed enormous success with market entry in the eye of the storm – 2009 to 2010.

          Business Weekly quoted Mr. Sellay extensively in another story about the forum published March 19, 2012. The story reports on Mr. Sellay’s remarks about China and America as target markets for business in the United Kingdom. A link to the story is available by kind courtesy of Business Weekly.
      • April 11, 2011

        William Sellay Presents at Transatlantic Business Forum at University of Cambridge

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          William Sellay Presents at Transatlantic Business Forum at University of Cambridge

          William T. Sellay served as the U.S. legal representative at the Transatlantic Business Forum at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, on March 10, 2011. Mr. Sellay, chair of Robinson & Cole's international practice, delivered a presentation entitled “Legal Aspects of Successful U.S. Launch and Beyond,” highlighting steps in initial legal planning, common missteps to avoid, and practical approaches to managing liability risks.

          The forum addressed trade and investment opportunities in the U.S. for United Kingdom companies. Mr. Sellay was joined on the panel by the head of international commercial banking at Lloyds Banking Group, the director general of the Institute of Directors, the international country coordinating partner of BDO, the United Kingdom director for American Airlines, and the editor of Business Weekly.

      • June 2, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Partner Examines Legal Considerations for Foreign Companies Doing Business in the US

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          Robinson & Cole Partner Examines Legal Considerations for Foreign Companies Doing Business in the US

          William T. Sellay, chair of Robinson & Cole's Global Business Group, recently spoke to representatives of more than 50 European and Asian firms about "Legal Considerations for Foreign Companies Establishing Business Activities in the United States." Mr. Sellay highlighted effective techniques for a successful launch into the American market, one of the most welcoming for foreign businesses, and identified strategies for protecting intellectual property, limiting liability, and minimizing the risk of business disputes. Robinson & Cole assisted various European and Asian companies in 2009 in establishing their US operations, including businesses in the areas of food and beverage, biotech, insurance, e-Business, energy, information technology, business publications, charitable foundations, and advanced technologies.
      • June 2, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorney a Featured Speaker at Global Business Summit

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          Robinson & Cole Attorney a Featured Speaker at Global Business Summit

          Attorney Kathleen M. Porter discussed the legal issues for US companies who market and sell their products and services outside the US at an International Business Breakfast on May 20, 2010. Ms. Porter joined other senior executives to provide an in-depth look at how global businesses can manage risk and capitalize on opportunities in a competitive international environment. Ms. Porter highlighted key differences between US and other countries on contracting, intellectual property, trade regulation and import/export matters. The International Business Breakfast was presented by HSBC and the Fairfield County Business Journal and was sponsored by the World Affairs Forum.
      • March 11, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorney Speaks at U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Program

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          Robinson & Cole Attorney Speaks at U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Program

          William T. Sellay, chair of Robinson & Cole's International Practice Group and a member of the firm's Business Transactions Group, was the principal speaker at the program "Doing Business in India" sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration. Mr. Sellay addressed the legal, practical and cultural aspects of product distribution and intellectual property protection in India to an audience representing 48 companies interested in entering or expanding in a market with over one billion people.
      • February 16, 2010

        Robinson & Cole Attorney Addresses Scottish Technology Executives on Doing Business in the United States

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          Robinson & Cole Attorney Addresses Scottish Technology Executives on Doing Business in the United States

          Robinson & Cole partner William T. Sellay, chair of the firm's International Practice group and member of the firm's Intellectual Property and Technology group, addressed technology companies based in Scotland as part of a panel discussion on successfully entering and expanding in the U.S. The companies, involved in renewable energy, software, digital media, aquaculture, and outsourcing, were in Boston for a week-long program, which included courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Scottish Development International and Highlands and Islands Enterprise sponsored by program.
    • Publications + Presentations
    • "Taking your Technology to America – How to do it Right," presented by William T. Sellay, presented at Transatlantic Business Forum in Cambridge, England (6/24/2014)

      "How to Export Your Medical Device to Europe," at "Europe: Your Gateway to Trade Opportunities” at Yale University, presented by Kathleen M. Porter, panelist (5/7/2012)

      "Doing Business in the U.S.," at Transatlantic Business Forum at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, presented by William T. Sellay (3/8/2012)

      "Legal Aspects of Successful U.S. Launch and Beyond," at Transatlantic Business Forum at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England, presented by William T. Sellay (3/10/2011)

      presented by William T. Sellay, Speaker on a program entitled "A Symposium on Doing Business in China," sponsored by J.P. Morgan/Chase (9/2005)

      authored by William T. Sellay, Interviewed and quoted for a feature article on doing business in the U.S. in Director magazine, a monthly publication for business leaders in the UK, published by the Institute of Directors (8/2005)

      e-counsel: The Executive's Legal Guide to Electronic Commerce, authored by William T. Sellay, coeditors Jacqueline Pennino Scheib, Brian Moran, William Sellay, and Kathleen Porter (2000)

      "Doing Business in China," at U.S. Department of Commerce District Export Council (12/2004), presented by William T. Sellay

      "China: Commercial Law," at National Association of Credit Managers (6/2003), presented by William T. Sellay

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