Practice Strengths

Global Practices

In today's globalized economy, our clients' interests and involvements extend to the far corners of the world. Our multidisciplinary teams help them deal with complex cross-border issues wherever they occur.  Just a sampling of our Global Practices experience:

  • Successfully represented one of the largest shirt manufacturers in the world accused of patent infringement.
  • Negotiated with joint venture partners in China, New Zealand and Taiwan to acquire a 70 percent ownership interest in a Shanghai, China semiconductor manufacturing facility (with sales operations throughout East Asia) for a U.S. investor.
  • Retained by a Mexican concern to structure a transaction involving two different U.S. companies and two different Brazilian companies to construct a thermo hot water treatment facility in Brazil.
  • Handled acquisitions by a German-based, international magazine publishing company of two U.S. business magazines and Web sites catering to entrepreneurial needs (two separate transactions), as well as a women's magazine group, including extensive antitrust analysis.  Our assistance extended to the subsequent divestiture of all U.S. magazine activities.
  • Defended imports in a full range of industrial and other products, including Canada's softwood lumber; pure and alloy magnesium from Canada; various steel products from several countries; Mexican cement; nitrocellulose from Japan; fuel ethanol from Brazil; steel from South Africa; manganese sulfate from China; oscillating and ceiling fans from China; and cigarette lighters from China. The team has won significant victories assuring the trade flow of all these products.
We are organized to assist sophisticated companies, entrepreneurs and investors with their litigation, business, tax, trade and intellectual property matters.

Leadership in Action
International Business Transactions: Clearing the Way for Entry into the Indian Market
Client: Stoneridge, Inc.
Type of Matter: Joint venture for manufacturing automotive instrumentation
Our Client's Challenge: To supply instrumentation to automobile original-equipment manufacturers at their locations in India, using equipment that met the designs and standards for that market.
The Goal: Team with a highly competent, quality company possessing complementary products and knowledge of the Indian automotive market, establishing a mutually beneficial relationship to make instrumentation for that market.
Our Strategy: The transaction required an understanding of the products involved and roles each party would play with product design, manufacturing and sales within the Indian automotive market. It was essential to structure the agreement on all levelsownership and control, management, operations, performance, intellectual property development and taxin a way that would fit the needs of all concerned.

This agreement had to be relevant in both the United States and India, and it needed to encourage cooperation as well as reward the protection of intellectual property. Success depended on an agreement that set out the aspirations and responsibilities of the parties clearly, while leaving room for change as needed and an ability for the parties to grow together in a new relationship.

Results: In the resulting transaction, each side had a detailed and clear understanding of its role and obligations. The parties began fulfilling their roles immediately, developing products and meeting customer demands, rather than taking time to work out operational issues and position themselves in the relationship. The joint venture has exceeded market development and sales expectations.


Business Transactions
It takes insight and experience to help small companies become large ones, and to help large companies continue to grow in reach and dominance—that's what Baker Hostetler business lawyers have done for 90 years.

Our international business experience includes mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, technology transfers and licensing, debt and equity financing, and contracts and commercial agreements, and compliance with laws and regulations governing international trade.

Litigation
Baker Hostetler handles major international litigation for clients in the United States and abroad. We represent multinational corporations, as well as sovereign governments and private investors. In today's borderless business world, our clients are based in and face disputes in virtually any country. We understand the unique challenges associated with litigating disputes arising from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and we know how to apply the appropriate treaties and regulations, and effectively anticipate many problems—for example, choice of forum, choice of law, jurisdiction, culture, and language capabilities for the parties in a transnational dispute.

The range of disputes that we resolve is as broad as our client base, encompassing finance, insurance coverage, asset attachment and recovery, distribution, tax, trade, product liability, and violations of international law.  We have a network of attorneys and professionals who assist us in assembling the facts from afar.   We also represent parties in all major international arbitration forums.

Intellectual Property
Baker Hostetler has longstanding relationships and a strong network of associated quality Intellectual Property (IP) firms throughout the world. Through these relationships we coordinate the acquisition of patent, trademark and copyright registrations, prepare and draft agreements and design and implement enforcement programs in more than 100 countries.

Our IP team has successfully represented clients in “Section 337” investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission. These proceedings are especially fast, complex and can lead to the issuance of orders that bar importation into the U.S. of items that infringe U.S. IP rights or otherwise unfairly compete.

Members of our team have consulted on revisions and development of the IP laws for South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, have served in the office of the Chief Senior Counsel for the Central Government of India, and regularly appear in actions before the ITC. A member of our team has also served as a private sector advisor to the U.S. delegation to the diplomatic conference on The Trademark Law Treaty, a thirty-three member country treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization designed to streamline and harmonize the administrative procedures for obtaining trademark registrations throughout the world.

Tax
We offer the full complement of international tax advice on both outbound and inbound tax issues. Our international tax team has significant experience handling multibillion-dollar international merger, acquisition and disposition transactions, cross-border financing transactions, cross-border planning issues including obtaining private rulings when necessary.

We help clients address treaty issues and transfer pricing matters such as advanced pricing agreements, pre-filing agreements, and Competent Authority advice.  In the area of international tax controversy, we work to resolve complex issues, and we represent clients in the IRS Technical Advice process, IRS Appeals, and the Courts.

In addition to handling large transactions and case matters, we regularly provide efficient and practical advice to  businesses expanding their operations and opportunities globally. As overseas investment opportunities have become increasingly more attractive in the private capital markets, our international tax team has become a critical component to the firm's broader, market leading private equity advisory group.

Trade, Customs and Immigration
Baker Hostetler represents foreign and domestic companies, associations, and governments from every continent in all manner of international trade, customs and immigration proceedings before U.S. and foreign regulatory agencies, courts, and international dispute resolution panels, especially NAFTA. We advise governments, private enterprises and associations in international trade negotiations. Our attorneys also participate in and advise foreign governments in WTO proceedings.

German Practice
Baker Hostetler's German Practice is uniquely positioned to contribute the insight and legal experience required to assist companies from Germany and the German-speaking countries with their investments in the United States.

With extensive experience representing German, Swiss and Austrian clients and their U.S. subsidiaries, our practice is as diverse as the investments of these and other German-speaking countries in the U.S. We provide our clients with comprehensive legal advice on corporate issues including mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures, corporate finance, site selection and formation of subsidiaries, and a full range of international financial services. Our experience includes U.S.-inbound transactions, outbound transactions and cross-border transactions, making us well positioned to help you expand your business in the U.S. and globally. 

Leadership in Action
International Business Transactions: Clearing the Way for Entry into the Indian Market
Client: Stoneridge, Inc.
Type of Matter: Joint venture for manufacturing automotive instrumentation
Our Client's Challenge: To supply instrumentation to automobile original-equipment manufacturers at their locations in India, using equipment that met the designs and standards for that market.
The Goal: Team with a highly competent, quality company possessing complementary products and knowledge of the Indian automotive market, establishing a mutually beneficial relationship to make instrumentation for that market.
Our Strategy: The transaction required an understanding of the products involved and roles each party would play with product design, manufacturing and sales within the Indian automotive market. It was essential to structure the agreement on all levelsownership and control, management, operations, performance, intellectual property development and taxin a way that would fit the needs of all concerned.

This agreement had to be relevant in both the United States and India, and it needed to encourage cooperation as well as reward the protection of intellectual property. Success depended on an agreement that set out the aspirations and responsibilities of the parties clearly, while leaving room for change as needed and an ability for the parties to grow together in a new relationship.

Results: In the resulting transaction, each side had a detailed and clear understanding of its role and obligations. The parties began fulfilling their roles immediately, developing products and meeting customer demands, rather than taking time to work out operational issues and position themselves in the relationship. The joint venture has exceeded market development and sales expectations.


Global Practices Lawyers
Bruce O. Baumgartner Partner
Cincinnati 513.929.3417
John J. Burke Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1625
Hilary S. Cairnie Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1668
Matthew W. Caligur Partner
Houston 713.646.1355
John J. Carney Partner
New York 212.589.4255
Joseph L. Chairez Partner
Costa Mesa 714.966.8822
Alfred C. Chidester Partner
Denver 303.764.4091
Frederick W. Chockley III Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1680
Avery S. Cohen Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7455
Dennis O. Cohen Associate
New York 212.589.4288
Jonathan P. Cramer Partner
New York 212.589.4604
Mark A. Cymrot Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1677
James A. Dimitrijevs Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7579
Breaden M. Douthett Counsel
Cleveland 216.861.7891
Steven C. Emme Associate
Houston 713.646.1344
Jeffry J. Erney Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7550
Elliot J. Feldman Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1679
José C. Feliciano Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7827
Paul S. Francis Partner
Houston 713.646.1334
Steven H. Goldberg Partner
New York 212.589.4219
Patrick Hannon Partner
New York 212.589.4640
Robin E. Harvey Partner
Cincinnati 513.929.3409
Robert B.G. Horowitz Partner
New York 212.589.4240
Stuart E. Horwich Of Counsel
Washington, DC 202.861.1764
Matthew W. Hoyt Partner
Columbus 614.462.2650
Jon David Ivey Partner
Houston 713.646.1338
Mark A. Johnson Partner
Columbus 614.462.2698
Jamie A. Joiner Partner
Houston 713.646.1359
Mark C. Joye Partner
Houston 713.646.1313
R. Steven Kestner Executive Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7558
James M. King Partner
Denver 303.764.4087
Richard E. Kozlowski Partner
Columbus 614.462.2628
Annette Kwok Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1683
Christoph Lange Partner
New York 212.589.4267
Roger B. Lee Associate
Costa Mesa 714.966.8811
John R. Lehrer II Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1620
Richard M. Lehrer Partner
New York 212.589.4618
Dominic A. Lloyd Partner
Denver 303.764.4101
C. Dennis Loomis Partner
Los Angeles 310.442.8865
Tom McDonald Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1664
Kavita Mohan Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1738
Grant A. Monachino Associate
Cleveland 216.861.7357
John W. Moscow Partner
New York 212.589.4636
Christina J. Moser Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7818
Betty Southard Murphy Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1586
Pamela D. Nieto Counsel
Houston 713.646.1372
Michael W. Nydegger Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1688
Michelle D. Pector Partner
Houston 713.646.1326
Stephen J. Petras, Jr. Partner - International Team Leader
Cleveland 216.861.7862
Timothy Scott Pfeifer Counsel
New York 212.589.4260
Frank A. Pugliese Partner
New York 212.589.4664
Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1567
David B. Rivkin Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1731
Robert K. Rupp Partner
Columbus 614.462.2688
Bruce W. Sanford Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1626
Paul M. Schmidt Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1760
William H. Schweitzer Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1531
W. Robert Shearer Partner
Houston 713.646.1391
Winnie Sim Associate
Columbus 614.462.4726
Adam J. Smith Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1661
Michael S. Snarr Counsel
Washington, DC 202.861.1710
George A. Stamboulidis Partner
New York 212.589.4211
Carl R. Steen Partner
Costa Mesa 714.966.8803
Alexander J. Szilvas Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7883
Mark H. Tidman Partner
Washington, DC 202.861.1670
William M. Toomajian Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7569
Monica S. Verma Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7370
Jennifer M. Walrath Associate
Washington, DC 202.861.1702
Oren J. Warshavsky Partner
New York 212.589.4624
Deborah A. Wilcox Partner
Cleveland 216.861.7864
Kenneth C. Wright Partner
Orlando 407.649.4001
Michael P. Wright Associate
Chicago 312.416.6219
Gonzalo S. Zeballos Partner
New York 212.589.4656
Global Practices Professionals
Jing Zhu International Trade Analyst
Washington, DC 202.861.1768
Date Global Practices News
3/11/2010 2010 "Rising Stars" Announced
3/11/2010 2010 "Super Lawyers" Announced
1/29/2010 Horowitz Featured in "Expert Guide"
1/26/2010 McDonald to Serve on Economic Development Committee
1/26/2010 Carney Presents on the Wells Process in SEC Enforcement Actions
1/21/2010 Schweitzer Named "Who's Who in Washington Sports Business"
1/5/2010 Five Named "Washington's Top Lawyers"
12/17/2009 Wilcox Chairs "2009 Intellectual Property Update"
12/4/2009 Goldberg Represents Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. in Canadian Joint Venture
12/4/2009 Goldberg Represents Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. in Large Indian Joint Venture
11/12/2009 Chicago Office Opens: Another Step Forward in Baker Hostetler Growth
11/10/2009 Carney Presents on Responding to SEC Investigations
11/5/2009 Feldman Addresses International Clothing and Textile Bureau
11/5/2009 Carney Addresses Anti-fraud Conference
10/16/2009 Sanford to Address "Communications Law in the Digital Age" Conference
10/5/2009 2009 "Super Lawyers" Announced
8/10/2009 "Best Lawyers in America" Recognizes 94 Baker Hostetler Attorneys
6/17/2009 2009 "Rising Stars" Announced
6/12/2009 Chambers USA Names 36 "Leading Business Lawyers"
5/12/2009 Petras & McDonald Address International Conference
5/1/2009 Sanford Invited to Participate in Society of Professional Journalists' "Centennial Celebration"
4/21/2009 Feldman & Petras Involved in CUSLI Annual Conference
3/30/2009 Firm Website Receives Accolade for Effective Branding
3/5/2009 Feldman Delivers Speech: "The Next American President: Challenges For The United States And North America"
1/12/2009 Baker Hostetler Announces New Partners
1/9/2009 Baker Hostetler Announces New Associates
11/13/2008 Petras Addresses Northeast Ohio International Business Network
10/11/2008 Petras and Affiliates Address International Bar Association
9/25/2008 "Best Lawyers in America" Recognizes 77 Baker Hostetler Attorneys
06/10/2008 Baker Hostetler Named Top Firm in Cleveland
Date Global Practices Quotes
3/4/2010 Cleveland Plain Dealer: The “Billable Hour” Slips Out of Favor as Lawyers Respond to Downturn
2/3/2010 DealLawyers.com: Joint Ventures in India
1/26/2010 Law360: Corporate Counsel All-Star List
1/22/2010 Law360: Songwriter Sampled In 'My Humps' Wins Copyright Feud
1/20/2010 Compliance Week: SEC Enforcement Division Gets Sweeping Makeover
1/14/2010 LEADERS: Building the New York Practice
1/7/2010 China Economic Review: Home or Away?
1/5/2010 MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews": Security or Profiling?
12/15/2009 Compliance Week: Honest-Services Fraud Comes Under Fierce Attack
12/14/2009 Wall Street Journal: China Firms Defend Tech-Purchase Rules
12/10/2009 Law360: Shoe On Other Foot As China Investigates U.S. Autos
12/10/2009 BNA's Construction Labor Report: Court Names Former Prosecutors to Oversee New York Operating Engineers Local 14, 14B
12/1/2009 Newsday: Junior Gotti Free After Jury Fails to Reach Verdict
11/30/2009 New York Times: Former Prosecutor Appointed to Investigate Corruption in Crane Operators’ Union
11/5/2009 Forbes.com: Feds' New Insider Trading Target: Lawyers
11/2/2009 Texas Lawyer: New Deals: Quanta Services Acquires Price Gregory Services, Service Corp. to Acquire Keystone North America
10/29/2009 Financial Times: China to Investigate U.S. Car Subsidies
10/6/2009 Law360: Q&A with Elliot Feldman
10/5/2009 Law360: Mistakes To Avoid In Duties Cases
9/28/2009 China Daily - U.S. Edition: Trade Imbalance Teeters Amid Quarrels
9/24/2009 Bloomberg TV: The U.S.-China Relationship
9/23/2009 Financial Times: China Appeals on WTO Films Ruling
9/16/2009 The Hill: China Tires A Deal For Steelworkers Union
9/14/2009 Bloomberg News: Obama Says Chinese Tires Decision Isn't Provocative
9/9/2009 Bloomberg News: U.S. Steel Pushes Obama to Choose Workers Over Trade
9/2/2009 Forbes.com: Obama Faces Tire Trade Dispute
8/18/2009 Forbes.com: Tire Trade Dispute Rolls On
8/6/2009 CNBC's "Power Lunch": Cyber Attack Shuts Down Twitter
8/4/2009 Financial Times: US Car Aid Plan Irks Trading Partners
7/27/2009 BusinessWeek: The U.S. and China Put Their First String in Washington Summit
7/24/2009 FOX 5/WNYW: New Jersey Political Corruption Scandal
6/17/2009 CKNW/Corus Radio: Canada's $1B Bailout for Pulp & Paper Industry
6/12/2009 KCTS 9 (PBS): Blaine-Canada Border Controversy
5/4/2009 Crain's New York Business: Taking Bigger Caseload
4/30/2009 The Chronicle Herald: Trade: Will U.S. Notice if We Look the Other Way?
4/9/2009 Reuters/CNNMoney.com: Knock on Softwood: Canada-U.S. Deal Should Hold
3/18/2009 Reuters: U.S. Lawmaker Blasts China Food Safety
2/19/2009 KGO/ABC News Radio: President Obama's Canadian Trip—Discusses Trade & The Economy
1/23/2009 Bloomberg TV's "On the Economy": China Currency Controversy
12/22/2008 KGO/ABC News Radio: Possible Lifting of Business/Travel Restrictions to Cuba
12/01/2008 China Textile: International Trade and the End of Textile Quotas

For more information about our Global Practices:
National Leaders
Elliot J. Feldman 202.861.1679

efeldman@bakerlaw.com

Stephen J. Petras Jr.

216.861.7862

spetras@bakerlaw.com

Chicago
Ronald S. Okada 312.416.6210
Cincinnati

Eric J. Geppert

513.929.3405

egeppert@bakerlaw.com

Cleveland

Stephen J. Petras Jr.

216.861.7862

Columbus

Daniel J. Gunsett

614.462.2642

Costa Mesa

Joseph L. Chairez

714.966.8822

jchairez@bakerlaw.com

Denver

David Waller

303.764.4093

dwaller@bakerlaw.com

Houston

David Ivey

713.646.1338

divey@bakerlaw.com

Los Angeles

Peter W. James

310.979.8421

pjames@bakerlaw.com

New York

Christoph Lange

212.589.1667

clange@bakerlaw.com

Orlando

Kenneth C. Wright

407.649.4001

kwright@bakerlaw.com

Washington, DC

Elliot J. Feldman

202.861.1679

efeldman@bakerlaw.com

Contact

National Leaders
Elliot J. Feldman
202.861.1679


Stephen J. Petras, Jr.
216.861.7862


Contacts by Office »

Representative Clients

The E.W. Scripps Company

Gruner + Jahr

Kentak Products Company

Manildra Milling Corporation

Ontario Forest Industries Association

Stoneridge, Inc.

Tembec Inc.

Practice Highlights

Over 80 lawyers focusing in international business, litigation and trade issues, combined with the extensive global capabilities of our tax and intellectual property lawyers

Multilingual team

Multidisciplinary solutions for international trade and customs matters.

Full capabilities to deal with international arbitral and trade bodies, from the International Chamber of Commerce to the International Trade Commission and World Trade Organization