International Trade

International trade can present many exciting and relevant opportunities for your business, helping to power your organisation’s growth. However, it is also of the utmost importance to be well-informed and adequately prepared for all legal aspects of trading across borders. Our in-house commercial lawyer at Cranbrook Legal can advise and assist on exactly these elements of your business’s activities around the globe. In the process, we can help ensure you realise the potential of your business, while adhering to all relevant regulations.

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What are the key legal requirements for trading internationally?

You will need to address a broad range of aspects in order to prepare your business for trading internationally. Some of these vital elements include:

  • Export controls, which restrict the goods or technologies that can be exported to specific countries
  • Customs compliance, with goods being properly declared at customs, and the relevant import/export procedures being followed in both the importing and exporting countries
  • Product standards and regulations, which can vary significantly from one market to the next
  • Intellectual property protection, as you may need to obtain patents, trademarks, and copyrights in order to use your brand and products in certain countries
  • Tax compliance, with regard to VAT as well as corporate taxes.

Can Cranbrook Legal assist me if I am trading internationally?

Yes, we can! Our in-house commercial lawyer can advise and assist your business in relation to many different aspects of trading internationally.

We can lend the benefit of our expertise on such elements as navigating complex international trade laws, drafting contracts for cross-border transactions, and ensuring compliance with import/export regulations.

How can I protect my IP rights in international markets?

Various measures can help you protect your business’s intellectual property (IP) rights when you trade across borders. You may need to take steps to register patents, trademarks, and copyrights in the specific countries where you intend to operate.

You will need to familiarise yourself with, and adhere to, the IP laws in each target market. It will also be crucial, before you file for protection, to search existing IP registrations in your target markets, to ensure your chosen trademarks and designs have not already been taken.

What risks are associated with foreign exchange?

Although trading internationally can represent a lucrative opportunity for your business, it can also bring certain risks – including, but not limited to:

  • Economic risks, such as currency fluctuations and economic downturns
  • Political risks, such as civil unrest, corruption, or the regulatory environment
  • Legal risks, such as overseas customers failing to meet their contractual obligations
  • Cultural risks, such as language barriers or cultural differences.

How can I navigate through international trade agreements?

As a decision-maker for your business, you can take various steps to help navigate international trade agreements.

Your first step will need to be thoroughly researching which trade agreements are applicable to your industry and the countries you may be looking to export to or import from.

You will then be able to carefully review the terms of each agreement. Alongside this, you are advised to consult with experts – such as our own commercial lawyer – to help ensure you understand the implications and are well-placed to leverage the benefits.

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What legal protections are needed for cross-border contracts?

The following are examples of legal protections that you should be looking to incorporate into your contracts across borders:

  • Intellectual property protection, including clearly defined ownership of IP
  • Risk management provisions, including for insurance and indemnification
  • Dispute resolution provisions, including a jurisdiction clause that makes clear where disputes will be litigated.

How do I ensure compliance with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in foreign markets?

To help make sure your business adheres to the terms of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in destination markets, you are advised to develop a robust program aimed at achieving and maintaining such compliance.

An anti-bribery program at your organisation will need to encompass such elements as a written anti-bribery and anti-corruption policy, as well as regular risk assessments, due diligence on all third parties, and comprehensive training for employees.

Why Choose Us For Your International Trade?

We Are Dedicated

We Are Committed

We Are Professional

We Are Result Driven

We Are Strategic Thinkers

We Are Commercially Aware

Contact our Commercial Solicitors In London on 0208 215 0053 or
via info@cranbrooklegal.com to make your enquiry.

What are the key considerations when entering into partnership agreements abroad?

If you are looking to enter into partnership arrangements with businesses in other countries, you are advised to take the time to understand each potential partner country’s business culture and practices.  

You should also make sure you thoroughly understand the relevant laws and regulations that will apply to each given partnership. In line with this, it is likely that you will need to thoroughly review and adapt your organisation’s contracts to fit the foreign country’s legal landscape.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What industries do you offer legal services in?

The in-depth knowhow of our in-house commercial lawyer, as well as the far-reaching expertise, experience, and contacts the broader Cranbrook Legal team enjoys, means we are well-placed to provide legal services for businesses in all industries.

We are especially well-known for the services we provide to businesses in such sectors as information technology (IT), telecommunications, software development, financial services, engineering, and marketing and public relations (PR).

Yes, we can take a collaborative approach alongside legal professionals in your business’s overseas target markets. Through doing so, we can help ensure your business complies with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements in the foreign jurisdictions where you intend to operate.

Yes, we do. As a legal firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), we adhere to the regulator’s code of conduct, which requires solicitors to keep client money and assets safe.

We keep client money in a client account, separate from our firm’s money, with each client’s money only being used for the given client’s matters.

Our hard-won expertise and experience in helping clients to thrive in business both in the UK and across the world, leaves us well-placed to advise and guide your business through all key legal aspects of trading internationally.

We can assist with your business’s compliance in different countries as part of a project-managed, tailored service built around your particular circumstances, needs, and ambitions.

Please feel free to call Cranbrook Legal today, on 0208 215 0053, to learn more.

Yes, our commercial lawyer possesses considerable knowledge and experience in the handling of disputes that can arise for businesses trading internationally.

We can help you navigate the complexities of cross-border disputes, to maximise the likelihood of positive outcomes and the smooth resolution of disagreements.

Yes, we can provide risk management and due diligence services that will help your organisation assess and mitigate the risks associated with international trade.

Such services can include the likes of country risk assessment and due diligence assessment of companies your business may be considering a partnership with.

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