Focus Areas
- Represented a large privately held U.S. based industrial manufacturer in separate but subsequent acquisitions of its distributors in Spain, Austria and Italy, respectively.
- Multiple transactions pertaining to Brazil, including the establishment of wholly-owned subsidiaries of U.S. manufacturing companies, negotiating and/or termination of Brazilian distribution agreements, and miscellaneous other commercial matters.
- Represented a variety of public and privately held companies relative to establishing manufacturing operations in China. Some transactions were structured as wholly foreign-owned enterprises (WFOEs), others as equity or cooperative joint ventures.
- Assisted a variety of public and privately held companies in establishing global compliance, code of ethics and business conduct policies.
- Assisted various companies on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance, as well as related suspect payments outside the scope of FCPA.
- Represented a public company in an acquisition of its distributor in Mexico; structured as a stock acquisition, our client obtained a majority of shares at closing, with the remainder of shares acquired over a three-year period.
- Represented a privately held manufacturer in acquiring a majority equity interest in its distributor in England.
- Assisted a privately held manufacturer in restructuring an EU-wide distributor network; worked with local counsel throughout Europe.
- Assisted a public company with corporate restructuring of its foreign subsidiaries; worked closely with counsel in 17 countries on four continents to spearhead and coordinate corporate implementation.
- Assisted a privately held industrial manufacturer in the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of its distributor in the Netherlands.
- Represented a family-owned business during complex negotiations and the implementation of a software technology licensing transaction with an Argentinean licensee.
- Represented a public company in the establishment of a joint venture in Mexico, owned 50 percent by our client.
- Assisted a public company in the sale to another U.S. company of one of its divisions, including the stock held by it as a 49 percent joint venture partner in a Korean company.
- Assisted a privately held company in the sale to a U.S. public company of substantially all of its assets, including the stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, Mexico, Czech Republic and Sweden. Worked closely with counsel in those countries.
- Represented a variety of U.S. companies, both public and privately held, in the establishment of manufacturing, distribution and/or administrative headquarter operations in the European Union.
- Represented a variety of foreign companies, in particular from Europe, with establishing manufacturing, distribution and/or administrative headquarter operations in the U.S., including negotiations of and assistance relative to investment incentives on local and state basis.
- Provided trouble-shooting analysis to numerous companies relative to the structure and operations of their international agency and distribution network.
- Worked with numerous client to craft tailor-made forms of international contracts that respond to the need of the business people.
- Represented a public company in a claim of unlawful termination brought by its Dominican distributor in the courts of the Dominican Republic. Worked closely with counsel in the Dominican Republic.
- Represented a manufacturer in a share acquisition of a company located in France.
- “Ecommerce in the US,” Flanders Investment & Trade, Brussels/New York, October 9, 2024
- “Beyond Borders – Doing Business In the USA,” VOKA Antwerp-Waasland, Antwerp, Belgium, November 10, 2022
- “Hot Topics in International,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 11, 2017
- “International Business Law,” National Business Institute, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, September 25, 2017
- “Legal Issues for Foreign Companies Setting up in Ohio,” Dayton Development Coalition, Tipp City, Ohio, June 26, 2017
- “Wirtschaftsforum Markteinstieg USA (Economic Forum Market Entry USA),” Kuemmerlein, Essen, Germany, November 12, 2015
- “US Export Controls and Foreign Subsidiaries,” Biogen International, Zug, Switzerland, November 11, 2015
- “Doing Business In and With the United States,” Flanders Investment & Trade, Chicago, IL, November 20, 2014
- “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other Forms of Suspect Payment,” Cincinnati Bar Association, Cincinnati, August 2014
- “International Confidentiality, Licensing and Contract Manufacturing Agreements,” University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Institute for the Global Practice of Law, Cincinnati, July 2014
- “Doing Business in China: Recent Challenges,” Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce, September 2013
- “International Business Transactions,” University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Institute for the Global Practice of Law, Cincinnati, June 2013
- “Belgium Business Roundtable,” TeamNEO, Cleveland, Ohio, May 2013
- “Combatting Bribery and Other Forms of Suspect Payments,” American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C., October 2012
- “International Joint Ventures,” University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Institute for the Global Practice of Law, Cincinnati, September 2012
- “International Business Transactions,” University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Institute for the Global Practice of Law, Cincinnati, July 2012
- “The Importance of Exports to SW Ohio,” Miami Valley International Trade Association, Dayton, Ohio, September 2011
- “International Business Transactions,” University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Institute for the Global Practice of Law, Cincinnati, July 2011
- “Developing Cultural Competencies: China,” GE Aviation, Evendale, Ohio, June 2011
- “Israel: Innovation Hub and Trading Partner,” Miami Valley International Trade Association, West Chester, Ohio, May 2011
- “Legal Issues in International Business,” Xavier University’s Williams College of Business, Cincinnati, April 2011
- “Chinese Labor Law and Compliance,” NBI National Business Institute, Cincinnati, December 2010
- “Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Brazil,” SODEC 5th Annual Trade Conference, Cincinnati, October 2010
- “Legal Aspects of Doing Business in China,” Miami Valley International Trade Association, West Chester, Ohio, May 2010
- “Brazil: Rising Economic Power, Challenging Legal Issues,” Cincinnati, April 2010
- “International Corporate Governance,” American University Washington College of Law Conference, Miami, April 2010
- “Recent Legal Developments in the European Union,” interviews on BusinessWise, broadcast on WNKU 89.7, February 2010
- “International Business Ethics and Legal Compliance,” interviews on BusinessWise, broadcast on WNKU 89.7, February 2010
- “Business Ethics in Asia,” Crown Equipment Corporation, New Bremen, Ohio, February 2010
- “The Legalities of Doing Business in China,” NBI National Business Institute Teleconference, December 2009
- “China Revisited: Did the Promise Hold True?”, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, October 2009
- “International Sales: Practical Tips and Legal Considerations,” Miami Valley International Trade Association, West Chester, Ohio, May 2009
- “Personal Liability of Directors and Officers in the U.S., Belgium and Germany,” Munich, Germany, April 2009
- “Doing Business in the Midwest: Location Cincinnati,” Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, Ilmenau, Germany, April 2009
- “Liability of Directors and Officers in the U.S., Belgium, and the Netherlands,” Amsterdam, October 2008
- “Legal Perspectives,” Sino-American Business Summit presented by Miami University, West Chester, Ohio, September 2008
- “Hot Trans-Atlantic Business Issues,” Cincinnati, Ohio, September 2008
- “Selling into the European Union,” U.S. Department of Commerce, Loveland, Ohio, September 2008
- “U.S. Manufacturing in the 21st Century: A Playbook for Competing Globally,” U.S. Department of Commerce, Dayton, Ohio, August 2008
- “Chinese Labor Law and Compliance,” NBI Seminar, Cincinnati, July 2008
- “The U.S. Goes Sustainable: Investing in the Heart of America,” Amsterdam, April 2008
- “Legislative Changes: How Will Companies Doing Business in China Be Affected?”, Cincinnati, May 2007
- “China: Risk, Reward & How To Win,” US Department of Commerce, Erlanger, Kentucky, August 2006
- AV® Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2006 to 2025 for International Trade and Finance Law; named the Best Lawyers® 2021 and 2023 International Trade and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati
- Selected as a Leading Lawyer in the International practice area, Cincy Business Magazine, 2004 to present
- Honorary Consul of Belgium for the State of Ohio, by Royal Decree, 1997 to present
- Listed in Legal 500 in Merger and Acquisition, 2014
Professional Associations
- Southern Ohio District Export Council, Board of Trustees, member, 2006 to 2018
- European-American Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trustees, member, 2009 to 2018
- Miami Valley International Trade Association, Board of Trustees, member, 2004 to 2012, past president
- UC College of Law Institute for the Global Practice of Law, Advisory Board, member, 2011 to 2016
- Goering Center for Family and Private Business, member
- Cincinnati Bar Association, International Law Committee, past chair
- American Bar Association, European Law Subcommittee of the Business Section’s International Business Law Committee, past chair
- Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Council, past chair
Community Activities
- Cincinnati Public Radio (WGUC and WVXU), Community Board, member, 2006 to present
- City of Blue Ash, Ohio, Charter Revision Committee, member, 2012 to 2022
- Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation, assistant secretary, 2004 to present
- Focus On Youth, Board of Trustees, member, 2011 to 2014
Professional Activities
- Global Center of Greater Cincinnati, Board of Trustees, 2008 to 2009
- Cincinnati Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees, member, 2003 to 2005
- Cincinnati Academy of Leadership for Lawyers, Class of 2000
- Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under Forty, Class of 1999
- International Visitors Council of Greater Cincinnati, past president and member, Board of Trustees
- Consular Corps of Cincinnati, secretary and treasurer, 2002 to present
- EuroWatch (bi-weekly publication), Board of Advisors, 1998 to 2006
Education
- The George Washington University Law School, M.C.L., 1986
- American University Washington College of Law, LL.M., 1984
- University of Leuven (K.U.L.), J.D., 1983
- University of Antwerp Belgium, B.A., 1980
Bar Admissions
- Georgia
- Ohio
Languages
- Dutch
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Business Law Update – March 2023
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