Setting up a business outside of the UK

Overseas markets often require a local presence in order to achieve better market penetration. We can help you with many of your contracts and legal needs by working with our associates. Some contracts can be governed by English law (the legal system with which you are familiar) even though their performance takes place outside the UK.

On the other hand property, taxation and employment arrangements are usually subject to local regulations where local legal advice would be needed.

We can check whether it is safe to use your brand in a foreign jurisdiction and protect it by registering your brand as a trademark.  We file community trademark applications covering all the countries of the European Union and international trademark applications in major markets around the world.

Our language skills and knowledge of cultural differences will help you overcome the barriers to setting up a business overseas.

Work experience/case studies:

• We advised a UK based client, that wished to have a local presence in North America, Hong Kong and Australia. The type of business structure in each continent was different ranging from local subsidiary to franchise to representative office.
• We acted for a Bristol software company who set up a subsidiary in New Jersey to gain a foothold in the valuable North American market.
• We advised a government agency that wished to set up vehicle testing stations outside the UK, including Cyprus and Ireland.