Global Presence
The Mooney Law Firm LLC’s practice includes a network of affiliations with foreign attorneys in various jurisdictions, with a focus on Latin America and China. U.S. businesses often require assistance in obtaining local counsel overseas, which may be a necessary step in a resolving trade disputes. U.S. entities may hold claims against a foreign party for breach of contract for nonreceipt of goods or receipt of nonconforming goods. They may receive notice that they have been sued in a foreign court or named as respondent in a foreign arbitration. Goods exported from the U.S. may receive improper or irregular treatment by foreign customs officials. In these situations and others, we work closely with our clients and overseas co-counsel to find the best approach to satisfy our clients’ needs.
Latin America
United States trade with Latin America is steadily growing. Total U.S. merchandise trade with Latin America grew by 118% between 1996 and 2006. In 2008, the value of U.S.-Latin America trade was $560 billion. The United States’ free trade agreements with Mexico, Chile, Peru, and the Dominican Republic demonstrate the United States’ commitment to continued trade growth in Latin America. U.S. exporters are increasingly active in Latin American countries, and foreign counsel is often necessary to cut through local bureaucracy or bring a lawsuit in a foreign court.
The attorneys of The Mooney Law Firm LLC speak Spanish and Portuguese and have longstanding relationships with attorneys throughout Latin America. Mr. Mooney has a long history of establishing textile operations in the Caribbean and Mexico. Mr. Blades has worked in the São Paulo, Brazil office of one of the world’s largest law firms. We understand the unique challenges of litigating or handling administrative law issues in civil law countries, and our affiliated attorneys in Latin America assist our clients regularly.
China
The U.S.’s trade with China needs little introduction. Import and export transactions involving Chinese companies frequently encounter problems when either a U.S. exporter learns that Chinese regulations restrict or prohibit entry of their goods into China, or when a U.S. importer discovers that a Chinese manufacturer or exporter has breached a contract. U.S. companies frequently do not attempt to enforce their rights in transactions involving China because Chinese manufacturers or exporters often do not maintain a U.S. presence. However, steps can be taken to avoid this result such as seeking counsel with regard to Chinese law at the time of contract negotiations and relying on Chinese counsel to settle disputes as they arise. Similarly, greater certainty can be obtained when exporting to China when an advisory opinion is obtained in advance of shipping to ascertain the proper foreign duty rate and whether Chinese regulations permit the free entry of the goods in question.
The Mooney Law Firm LLC is allied with a leading Chinese law firm located in one of that country’s largest manufacturing regions. We have worked with Chinese counsel to obtain pre-export opinions on matters such as the export of used industrial machinery to China and conducting discovery in connection with U.S. administrative hearings. While trade with China presents virtually limitless potential, it is also contains considerable uncertainty, and we work with our allied Chinese attorneys to obtain clarity for our clients.
