International

We help international businesses enter the UK market and do business in the UK. We act as lead counsel on international transactions, and help clients build teams of professional advisors in the UK, including recruiters, real estate advisors, accountants and banks.

As a full-service firm, we are ideally placed to advise on the complexities and nuances of the UK market, including:

• Regulation and compliance matters.
• Tax and accounting.
• Employee issues including immigration.
• Company law and governance including health and safety.
• Transactions.
• Real estate, planning and the environment.
• Consumer protection and data privacy issues.

For more detail, download our Setting up business in the UK guide. It includes a practical checklist and a clear overview of the key issues to consider.

• Regulatory issues arising from international import and export of goods and services.
• Trade finance.
• Commercial contracts and agreements.

• Employment issues, including general HR advice, TUPE and drafting employment and other contracts and key policies.
• Using an employer of record.
• Worker and employment status issues.
• Assistance with sponsor licence applications to sponsor overseas nationals and exploring other immigration options.
• Hiring overseas nationals to work in the UK, including transferring employees to the UK from overseas linked companies.
• Co-ordinating and project managing cross jurisdictional advice e.g. implementing policies across a number of jurisdictions or terminating employment where an employee is employed by a UK company but works overseas (or vice versa).

• Establishing a UK entity or place of business, acquiring a UK entity or business, or embarking on a joint venture with, or investing into, a UK entity.
• Tax matters including corporation tax, filing tax returns, employee income tax and social security contributions, value added tax and income tax on company distributions.

• Terms and conditions of business.
• Distribution arrangements.
• E-commerce including website terms and conditions.
• Consumer protection regulations.
• Data privacy and cookies.
• Insurance arrangements.
• Advice to franchisors and potential franchisees in the UK.

• Cross-border proceedings issued or within the jurisdiction of the English High Court.
• International arbitration, including where the chosen seat is in the UK or where English law applies.
• Proceedings in overseas courts where English law is applicable or where a dispute has a connection with England or Wales.
• Enforcement of overseas judgments or arbitral awards against assets based within the UK.

Our team liaises with UK banks on behalf of international business and private clients— setting up banking facilities in the UK and advising on the terms of finance offered.

• Co-ordinating multi-jurisdictional or national IP litigation.
• International licensing transactions.
• Brand protection including clearance searches, managing trade mark filings and oppositions.
• Intra-group licensing.
• Protecting trade secrets and resolving employee competition disputes.
• IP audits, transactions, due diligence and valuation.
• Freedom-to-operate opinions.

Our team assists clients looking to move into the UK market—advising on real estate acquisitions, leases and maintenance contracts.