In a complex global marketplace with vanishing borders, Jones Walker develops creative legal solutions for clients both at home and throughout the world. 

Jones Walker has handled international transactions on five continents, with a concentration in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Our attorneys provide clients with seamless and efficient service by working closely with correspondent and affiliate counsel in foreign countries. This network enables the firm to devise complex, multi-faceted solutions in a cross-border environment, while assuring consistent delivery of legal services worldwide.

Jones Walker has particular experience in the area of counseling financial services businesses including insurers, banks, mutual funds, and producers.  We have advised multinational insurance company clients on company formation, foreign regulatory issues with respect to variable life, annuity and health insurance products, foreign laws governing authorization, licensing, marketing practices, agents and brokers, bancassurance, the drafting and interpretation of insurance policies, and have also advised foreign governments in connection with insurance and pension reform legislation. 

We have handled international construction projects, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and international joint ventures, and have successfully closed project financings related to large international infrastructure projects, including major development projects, joint ventures, investments and/or asset acquisitions, service agreements, and engineering, procurement, and construction contracts throughout the world.

Through our over nine-year partnering relationship with an international metals and mining company and its subsidiaries, we have gained extensive experience representing U.S.-based companies operating in foreign countries. This unique partnering relationship involves the handling of virtually all of the client's international business matters, providing representation with respect to all major acquisitions, joint venture arrangements, privatization transactions, product sales agreements, drilling and earthworks projects, offshore and onshore engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance contracts, strategic alliance agreements (relative to the outsourcing of facility operations), transportation agreements and other operating agreements relative to its mining and smelting operations.

In the international tax area, we regularly structure overseas operations in connection with cross-border mergers and acquisitions to minimize foreign tax liabilities and overall worldwide tax rates, including the use of hybrid financing techniques and foreign entities. 

Jones Walker has significant experience in handling international maritime and commercial litigation and arbitration matters. We regularly represent clients in UNCITRAL and ICC arbitrations and have overseen litigation filed with foreign tribunals. We represent both domestic and foreign clients before U.S. tribunals in international matters.

In connection with international corporate compliance matters, through its corporate compliance practice, Jones Walker regularly advises clients with respect to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Foreign Assets Control Regulations administered by OFAC, the USA Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act, U.S. anti-boycott legislation, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  Jones Walker also advises international clients on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), U.S. bilateral investment treaties with foreign countries, NAFTA, and CAFTA. 

Our attorneys have lived and studied around the world and bring a unique cultural perspective to the practice. Moreover, they are conscious of the differences between civil and common law systems, and have written and spoken extensively on the subject. Members of the International Practice are fluent in Spanish, French, and German and routinely handle complex matters utilizing their language skills.

News

• Louisiana Now Requiring Extensive Disclosures By Those in Public Service
• Whiting and Miller to Speak on Doing Business in Latin America
• Jones Walker Attorneys Complete Contract for Project in Lima, Peru
• Two Jones Walker Miami Attorneys Selected to Appear in Florida Super Lawyers

Events

• "Doing Business in Latin America"
• Keynote Presentation: "The Role of Leaders in Law School and the Legal Community in Fostering International Dialogue"

Publications

• Jones Walker Overview of 2008 Louisiana State Legislature Regular and Extraordinary Sessions
  July 3, 2008
• "Are Latin Banks Benefiting From the US Financial Crisis?"
  Thomas F. Morante
  Inter-American Dialogue Financial Services Advisor, April 2008
• "Insurance Modernization in Costa Rica: The Fruits of CAFTA"
  Thomas F. Morante , September 28, 2006
• "Global Liberalization of Financial Services Through the Evolution of Trade Agreements"
  Thomas F. Morante & Gita A. Timmerman
  The Banking Law Journal, August 15, 2006
• "CAFTA—Delayed Implementation"
  Thomas F. Morante , March 1, 2006