As the business world becomes more globally oriented, international law continues to be a growing practice area. Attorneys who represent businesses, governments, and nongovernmental organizations are increasingly called upon to advise clients on matters involving international laws. Lawyers worldwide now must be aware of the laws, customs and precedents of other nations. International arbitration is growing rapidly as a replacement for litigation in local courts where the outcome may be uncertain. Prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers and governmental regulators also face multiplying cases in which foreign law is implicated as more foreign nationals come into contact with the U.S. justice system. There have been six recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions dealing with the application of international law.

 

Law firms are seeking to globalize their practices, particularly in the areas of international arbitration and transactional work in securities, mergers and acquisitions, tax, and environmental law. As transactions frequently extend beyond the boundaries of the United States and technology and the Internet rapidly change the way we do business, international issues increasingly arise. Other practice areas affected may include international trade, import/export, intellectual property, patents, copyright, trademark, unfair trade, and admiralty/maritime law.