The International practice at Boult Cummings was created in response to the increasing number of businesses with a global focus and the ever-evolving legal needs associated with this shift in strategy. Boult Cummings' International attorneys have experience assisting U.S.-based companies with matters overseas, as well as foreign companies doing business in the United States.
Boult Cummings' International practice crosses all areas of legal specialty within the firm. The international experience highlighted below includes real estate/finance, intellectual property and corporate transactions, but the firm's international experience also includes labor and employment, litigation, government relations, health care and tax, among other areas.
To better respond to the expanding needs of clients across the country and beyond U.S. borders, we belong to one of the world’s largest legal networks, TAGLaw. TAGLaw's members are located across six continents, in more than 90 countries, and are in all the major commercial centers around the globe. Our membership in TAGLaw enables us to partner with local firms in almost any foreign jurisdiction where our clients need advice. This partnership allows us to effectively manage these transactions in an efficient, cost-effective manner, while still maintaining the quality and client service standards to which are clients are accustomed.
Real Estate/Finance
Experience is key to successfully managing complex real estate transactions. Boult Cummings provides experience with more than 35 attorneys specializing in real estate and finance related matters, and more than a third of those represent clients in transactions that cross international borders.
Our attorneys are well-versed in acquisitions, financing, lending, leasing, construction, regulatory, tax, joint ventures, entity formation and other real estate matters. We manage transactions for a variety of clients based in Europe, Asia and North America. Clients include banks, developers, manufacturing companies, insurance companies, national retailers, private equity funds, and other private and institutional real estate investors and lenders. Our real estate and finance attorneys represent buyers and sellers, borrowers and lenders, developers and property managers, and landlords and tenants who are involved in transactions nationwide and internationally.
Foreign Investment in American Real Estate
Though our attorneys regularly handle a broad range of real estate matters, of particular interest may be our strong track record assisting international clients with transactions in the United States, where our experience and relationships can make a major contribution to their success. Boult Cummings represents internationally based institutional investors, syndicators, corporations and individuals in purchasing, financing and leasing investment grade and middle market properties throughout the United States. These investments include office, retail, multi-family, residential, industrial and resort properties across the country. We regularly assist clients with specialized needs with various deal structures, including fee simple purchases, ground leases, master leases and joint ventures with American based owners and developers.
Economic Incentives
Structuring economic incentives to entice international companies and other organizations to locate or expand their facilities involves a variety of unique legal needs. Businesses, municipalities and industrial development boards have chosen Boult Cummings to assist in these efforts because of our specific expertise in this area and our strength in the area of real estate and finance.
We regularly help clients secure incentives for job creation and capital investment, and assist with federal, state and local tax matters. We frequently work with local industrial development agencies and various state agencies throughout the United States, including departments of economic and community development, revenue, transportation, environment and conservation. We also have particular expertise in structuring Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) agreements and their related tax increment financing arrangements.
International Intellectual Property
Boult Cummings has advised clients in connection with a wide variety of international technology and intellectual property transactions. Through our trademark practice, we counsel clients with protecting trademarks in numerous foreign jurisdictions. With offices on Music Row, we have a significant music and entertainment law practice. As part of that practice we have advised our clients in connection with foreign subpublishing arrangements, artist and producer agreements, and complicated royalty disputes. In our technology practice we work with clients in connection with technology outsourcing transactions, foreign software development agreements, and joint technology development projects.
International Corporate Transactions
Boult Cummings has advised clients on numerous foreign corporate and tax issues. We have counseled on a variety of issues, including establishing foreign subsidiary structures, intercompany technology transfer agreements and associated transfer pricing issues, and general contract drafting, interpretation, and negotiations. In addition, we have regularly represented both U.S. and foreign companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions in a number of countries.