International Trade

International trade relies on an extensive regulatory framework: authorizations from consenting agencies, customs and foreign exchange rules, sanitary and documentary requirements in destination countries, and contracts governed by more than one legal system. A failure at any point can halt shipments and jeopardize contracts already signed with foreign buyers.

Mendes advises exporters and importers, particularly in Amazonian agricultural and forest product supply chains. Experience includes defense in administrative proceedings that threatened the continuation of export authorizations; review of international contracts with comparative analysis of governing laws and mitigation of currency and banking compliance risks; the tax treatment of export revenue; customs regimes; and litigation arising from international transactions.