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Global Business Strategy

The Global Business Strategy Practice is a non-legal consultancy integrated with the International Trade and Regulatory practice group at Alston & Bird LLP. The Practice advises corporate and sovereign clients on global trade, investment and regulatory issues; advocates on trade policy and regulatory matters for corporate clients before the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. and foreign governments; develops strategic relationships for multinationals and risk capital worldwide; and provides political risk analysis and issue management advice to a diverse set of public and private sector entities.

The practice draws upon a professional background in trade and foreign economic policy formulation, legislative development and diplomacy. Mr. Eric Shimp, senior director of the practice, is a former U.S. trade negotiator and diplomat with experience spanning the Asia-Pacific region. He advises multinationals and sovereign clients on a broad range of trade and investment issues.

Our involvement in the arena of global trade and investment stems directly from the knowledge gained as U.S. trade negotiators and senior trade policy officials. Our experience includes the development of contemporary U.S. free trade policy, participation in the negotiation of the landmark U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and managing policy and trade disputes on a variety of matters such as investment, labor, trade in genetically modified organisms, intellectual property and financial services.

Our work in this area includes strategic advice to multinationals seeking comparative advantage through global trade and regulatory arrangements, including the resolution of WTO and bilateral disputes; advisory consulting to foreign governments seeking to expand bilateral trade with the United States; and trade and regulatory-related policy advice to national economies pursuing economic reforms necessary to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Practice professionals work frequently with integrated teams of attorneys to service clients in various trade-related disciplines.

We interact regularly with regulatory agencies and government bodies at home and abroad. These include, for example, the Office of the United State Trade Representative and the U.S Congress, the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission and the European Parliament, and various national governments and legislatures in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.