Europe

Europe’s various economies and legal systems present a complex array of challenges and opportunities for both domestic and international companies doing business in the region. Businesses and individuals operating or interested in Europe often seek experienced counsel with the deep local knowledge of European law and culture necessary to provide effective and efficient legal advice and representation.

Snell & Wilmer’s Europe practice consists of more than a dozen attorneys practicing in seven of our firm’s offices located throughout the western United States. The group was formed to better serve our clients doing business or with interests in Europe, and to provide high-quality legal representation to European clients conducting business in the United States. We provide full-service legal support including strategic legal advice on domestic and cross-border transactions and litigation, and have served as lead counsel in several complex and high-profile matters involving European businesses.

Our Europe-focused legal services include establishing supply, distribution and franchising channels for emerging businesses in the region, as well as handling international intellectual property licensing agreements, patent and trademark infringement for international manufacturers, mergers and acquisitions, public and private offerings for large companies with international operations, bankruptcy proceedings, international joint venture alliance agreements, tax planning, antitrust and antitrust compliance issues, general and complex business litigation matters, corporate restructuring, and estate planning and trust administration.

The firm handles legal services for a diverse selection of international clients that range from large publicly held corporations to small businesses and individual investors. Primary clients of the firm’s Europe practice are some of the region’s leading businesses including manufacturing companies, technology groups, insurance companies, oil companies, banking and investment institutions, private estates, governmental entities and real estate developers. We also regularly advise construction and engineering companies with projects in multiple regions, as well as multinational corporations addressing product distribution and asset acquisitions issues.

Connected and Invested: Over the years, our attorneys have established relationships in Europe’s business and legal communities by working closely with local counsel in each European jurisdiction. In particular, the attorneys in the Europe practice area participate in the International Bar Association and in Lex Mundi, a leading association of independent law firms. Through Lex Mundi and other international contacts, Snell & Wilmer’s clients have access to extensive international resources.

Snell & Wilmer’s Europe practice group has been involved in numerous significant transactions over the years including:

• Represented a European engineering company on a multi-million dollar breach of contract and delay claim relating to a power plant
• Represented a European construction company in litigation over an alleged breach of contract related to a power plant
• Served as lead counsel in bankruptcy litigation for an electrical subcontractor in a $12 million dispute claiming breach of contract and delay claim by a European project developer in U.S. bankruptcy
• Represented a European fiber-optics company on product distribution, asset recovery and labor issues
• Served as lead counsel to international lenders in financing transactions involving credits in various European countries
• Represented multiple European manufacturing companies on matters relating to maximizing returns, maximizing recoveries and purchasing assets from Chapter 11 debtors
• Represented U.S. and European companies acquiring / selling assets in multiple jurisdictions
• Assisted with private placement of Regulation D and Regulation S offerings for European investors
• Filed a petition under Section 304 of the Bankruptcy Code for the initiation of a case ancillary to foreign insolvency proceeding. The case involved a pending liquidation in the United Kingdom where there were assets of the debtor in the United States
• Represented U.S. and / or European companies in negotiating Joint Venture Agreements and Product Distribution Agreements
• Represented an international manufacturer of industrial and electronic equipment in connection with international supply and distributions agreements, joint venture in Mexico and acquisition in Italy
• Represented clients in connection with foreign patent protection throughout European countries, including enforcement activities for infringement and infringement clearance. Also, actively sought trademark rights in over 40 countries for franchises and global manufacturing companies
• Served as lead counsel to private individuals on their private placement life, international tax, branch profit tax and subpart F income tax matters
• Drafted franchise disclosure documents and franchise agreements and negotiated master franchise agreements for businesses throughout the Europe