Welcome to TheGlobalWallet.net!  The purpose of this site is to advise those wishing to invest, trade, franchise, or start a business abroad.  The site will cover the legal intricacies of doing business in foreign markets and negotiating with those from other parts of the world.  This site is designed for businesses with a base in the United States, but please contact me if you are accessing this site from another part of the world and I will be happy to point you in the right direction to assist you with your needs.

As we all know, the world is becoming smaller by the second.  The internet and the increasing ease of travel make it possible for a manufacturing plant in Bangcock to mass-produce a designer item from an entrepreneur in Portugal using Italian leather for sale and distribution in the United Arab Emirates.  The possibilities of transactions, relationships, and most importantly, profits, are endless.  As the world becomes an investor’s playground, the need for flawless contracts, added protection, and a strong sense of culture are heightened to levels previously unimaginable.  Before doing any sort of business in a foreign market, there are many aspects to consider.  Examples of considerations in the international business realm include:

• Who is my customer?  What is their culture?  Does their culture really have a need for the product or service I am offering?
• What laws are in place both internationally, domestically, and in the desired market that will affect my business?
• Does the country I am investing in have the proper infrastructure and quasi-governmental services to support my needs?
• Is there adequate income in the foreign economy to support my endeavor?
• What cultural norms do I need to be aware of before meeting with potential business partners abroad?
• Is there political stability in the country (i.e. is there a possibility of expropriation, human rights violations, or war)?
• How should I handle disputes with my international counterparts?
• How can I protect my intellectual property in countries with laws dissimilar to those in the United States?

These considerations are just the tip of the iceberg.  Throughout this blog, I will discuss various aspects of these points, as well as link to relevant international treaties, scholarly articles, and other sources which will assist those wishing to enter the international market. I will also include interviews from those who have been successful internationally and highlight their experience and advice.  I am also open to subscriber requests.  This is a vast and complicated industry, and I hope to provide you with the tools you need to be successful.

Now, let me introduce myself!  I am (as of this post) one month shy of graduating with a Juris Doctor from Texas.  I have completed several courses in international law, including:

• International Business Transactions
• Public International Law
• Business Fundamentals for Lawyers
• Latin American Law and Legal Systems
• Trade Law and Foreign Investments
• Methods of Dispute Settlement
• Corporate Liability
• International Environmental and Labor Standards
• Corporate Principles of Copyright
• Topics in International Intellectual Property, and
• European Private Law and Intellectual Property.

Some of these courses were completed abroad in Croatia (University of Rijeka) and Argentina (Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina).  I have also traveled extensively and acquired proficiency in Spanish, and I am currently learning Arabic.  The courses I have completed and the various study abroad programs I have participated in have sparked my interest in the world of international business.  During those trips, I have met with prominent business leaders and successful investors, as well as government officials in charge of managing foreign investments and currency flow.  Aside from my formal education and networking, I have acquired a wealth of knowledge about foreign culture, specifically the personal and business etiquette of individuals in the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.  These soft skills have, without a doubt, been just as important if not slightly more important than my technical knowledge when it comes to understanding business fundamentals and disputes on the global market.

I hope you enjoy the posts to come, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you all!

Amber Barger, Founder of TheGlobalWallet.net