International Trade

Our international trade and inward investment lawyers help public and private clients achieve their commercial aims.

Overview

Our international trade lawyers help clients navigate the complex framework of global trade law and the UK’s approach to international trade post-Brexit. We support our clients to maximise international growth opportunities by drawing on trade expertise across a range of legal disciplines and sector specialisms to deliver joined up, commercial advice.

We offer expert but accessible legal advice on:

Inward investment
Cross-border M&A
Trade disputes
Customs, tariffs and trade regulation, including Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) investigations
Intellectual property (IP) rights including trademarks, patents, copyright and trade secrets
GDPR
Business immigration, visa applications, employment law and pensions
Environmental and safety compliance and investigations
Supply chain and country of origin implications for registration, labelling and taxation
Licensing, advertising and trading standards
Trade finance and cross-border financial services
Economic sanctions, competition, subsidy control and state aid law

Inward investment

The UK continues to attract inward investment from overseas markets as international businesses look to expand into the UK through acquisition, equity investment, joint ventures, the incorporation of new entities and subsidiaries and by expanding existing operations.

Our UK Investment Launchpad service enables inbound clients to fast track the UK set up process by providing rapidly deployed project management alongside expert legal advice. Through this we deliver on the ground support with the development and implementation of the client’s UK market entry strategy. You can read here how we supported a US healthcare provider to create a new business through a joint venture by providing a collaborative legal and project consultancy solution.

Doing business in the UK for the first time can be exciting but complex. In this inward investment guide, we use our understanding of local market regulations and practices to identify 10 key points to help clients plan ahead for successful market entry.

Our International Trade team also works closely with the UK Department for Business and Trade and is a member of the UK Investment Support Directory.

Specialist areas of focus

Our international trade team can assist with all business issues connected to international trade including the following specialist areas:

UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) investigations including guidance on the process of investigations relating to trade tariffs, anti-dumping duties, subsidies, countervailing and safeguard measures.
International dispute resolution including sector-based disputes concerning tariff breaches, international arbitration and choice of jurisdiction/courts.
Import / export regulation including consumer law, customs law, product liability, obtaining approvals and engagement with regulators.
Supply chain due diligence and rules of origin implications for registration, labelling and taxation.
International trade in nuclear goods and services including the role of nuclear co-operation agreements, export controls, nuclear safeguards, nuclear liability and more general obligations under international, European and UK nuclear law.
Consultation around the UK’s upcoming implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - negotiating and complying with EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and other key agreements such as Preferential Trade Arrangements (PTAs) and the CPTPP.

Our expertise

Our international trade knowledge is backed up by our sector expertise in areas such as defence, digital services, energy and utilities, environment, financial services and fintech, food and drink, healthcare, retail, transport and technology and communications.

We are an independent UK law firm delivering advice across all UK jurisdictions (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) and the EU. Through our global network of trusted independent law firms, our international trade law experts provide a seamless legal service across the world. This flexibility allows us to collaborate with the right legal provider for our clients in each jurisdiction.

In the public sector

Together with our consortium partners Arent Fox Schiff LLP we have been appointed to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Trade Law Panel framework (RM6183). This appointment covers the provision of legal advice on trade negotiations and implementation of trade agreements and trading relationships, and compliance with and enforcement of international law relating to trade, including the law of World Trade Organisation (WTO) and trade agreements.

For more detail on our international trade law capability, you can view our CCS RM6183 Prospectus here.

Experience

Advising clients on importing chemicals into the UK under the post-Brexit UK chemicals regime.

Advising clients on labelling and product compliance for the cross border movement of goods under post-Brexit UK rules.

Advising a food importer on cross border movement of goods and customs requirements.

Advising a South African biscuit manufacturer on a dispute with HMRC over tariffs applied to goods coming into the UK.

Advising a Local Authority on the requirements and processes to establish a Port Health Authority.

Advising a global electronics business on producer responsibility (WEEE) obligations.

Advising a European-headquartered supermarket on labelling and product compliance for its non-food items post-Brexit.

Advising aviation technology manufacturers on importing/exporting machinery and components.

Advising a pet supplies retailer on the importation of pet supplies and pet food into the UK following Brexit.

Advising clients on the movement of goods between N. Ireland, Great Britain and the EU, and the implications of the N. Ireland Protocol on the movements.

Advising a US bank on the provision of significant trade finance facilities for the import of various foods stuffs to multiple West African countries.

Acting for an international bank on the establishment of a consumer finance business in Thailand and compliance with the various regulatory requirements.

Advising National Express Group on its tenders to run public transport services in several projects across the Middle East. The competitions mainly involved bus concessions and included a mixture of operation, maintenance, infrastructure and construction contracts. We advised on all areas of these projects, from the completion of compliant bids and negotiations with public authorities in each country, to the ongoing running of services following successful bids. We co-ordinated matters across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar.

Co-ordinating ongoing work for Harrods in 10 South American countries working with local attorneys in each country.

Co-ordinating employment advice for Thomson Reuters across 19 jurisdictions for an IT outsourcing project including obtaining advice as to whether TUPE/ARD would apply in each relevant jurisdiction and planning for potential transfers. The matter spanned Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Co-ordinating advice for a UK-based premium soft drinks manufacturer on labelling and food regulatory requirements across the EU and the USA and working with local attorneys.

Acting for an international soft drinks bottler business on international arbitrations arising out of multi-jurisdictional contracts governed by English law.

Advising a significant Republic of Ireland dairy processor on English law food regulatory issues and subsequent criminal proceedings arising out of malicious contamination of products.

Acting for a global consortium in a successful appeal against a decision of the European Chemicals Agency on the testing obligations for its chemical products.

Advising a contractor on the construction of a £4.2 billion tunnel project.

Meet the team