International

Globalization has complicated how you do business in ways unimagined just a few short years before. Despite international treaties and agreements, each jurisdiction has its own laws and regulations. U.S.-based and multinational corporations call on the team at Alston & Bird to provide seamless counsel in conjunction with a network of accomplished independent law firms worldwide.

Today’s business seeks a borderless world. Yet as much as globalization has reduced barriers to commerce, borders and their obstacles to business remain. Laws, regulations, and political risk today shape a global marketplace littered with barriers. At Alston & Bird, we solve these problems for business. Our International Practice Group is a multidisciplinary team of attorneys experienced in providing sound, practical legal advice to companies on their investments and operations globally. We advise our global clients on issues they face—ranging from corporate M&A to immigration, IP protection and clearance to products liability, international tax to international trade—providing real-world, practical solutions geared toward ensuring successful operations in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific region, and Africa. The breadth of the International Practice at Alston & Bird provides our clients with solutions tailored to their diverse global needs.

Counsel to a major Chinese state-owned company in connection with a complex products liability claim.
Counsel to numerous Asian, European and Latin American investors in acquisitions ranging from technology companies, automobile companies, theme restaurants and art auction houses to biotech and medical device companies.
Successful defense of Chinese and Taiwanese magnet manufacturers in a Section 337 proceeding before the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Highly sophisticated transfer pricing advice for major Asian and European manufacturing companies, including the securing of bilateral and multilateral advance pricing agreements.
Represented a foreign multinational client in connection with a proposed IRS transfer pricing assessment of $800–900 million, which resulted in a complete withdrawal by the IRS of its proposed assessment.
Representation of a financial services entity in arbitration brought against a sovereign relating to closure by the sovereign of a financial institution in which the client had invested, resulting in a $120 million award in favor of our client.
Representation of a major European technology company in a multibillion-dollar ICC arbitration over a patent license agreement.
Representation of U.S. companies (with local counsel) in trade remedy proceedings in China, Egypt, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, and of foreign companies in the U.S.
Advice on U.S., EU, Canadian and other country economic sanctions and export controls, and representation of clients alleged to have violated economic sanctions and export controls.
Counsel to foreign clients in mergers and acquisitions in the United States subject to national security reviews under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Advocate for multinational clients on regulatory and legislative matters before governments including the United States, European Union, China, Japan and throughout the Middle East.
Act as U.S. legal counsel to Chinese private and State Owned Enterprises in conjunction with multiple private placements in China and public securities offerings on the Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen stock exchanges.
Representation of multiple U.S.-based financial technology and payments companies in strategic transactions throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and de novo new market entry.

Contacts

Anthony M. Balloon

Partner

Atlanta

Phone: +1 404 881 7262

Email: tony.balloon@alston.com

Sam K. Kaywood, Jr.

Senior Counsel

Atlanta

Phone: +1 404 881 7481

Email: sam.kaywood@alston.com

Richard R. Willis

Partner

London, Brussels

Phone: +44 20 8161 4356

Email: richard.willis@alston.com

Wim Nauwelaerts

Partner

Brussels

Phone: +32 2 486 8822

Other Phone: +1 202 239 3709

Email: wim.nauwelaerts@alston.com

Highlights

                        May 15, 2025

                        Alston & Bird Advises FirstCash Holdings on £351 Million Acquisition of H & T Group
                    
                            Alston & Bird advised Texas-based pawnbroker FirstCash Holdings and its UK subsidiary Chess Bidco on their £351 million acquisition of H & T Group, a leading publicly traded UK-based operator of pawn stores.

                        Press Release

                        June 28, 2024

                        Tony Balloon Named to India Business Law Journal’s International A-List 2024
                    
                            Alston & Bird partner Tony Balloon has been recognized among “India’s International Top Lawyers” in 2024 by the India Business Law Journal. It’s the first year Tony has been named to the list of the top 100 lawyers outside India with practices focused on matters related to the country.

                        Press Release

                        February 13, 2025

                        Alston & Bird Increases Rankings in Chambers Global 2025
                    
                            Alston & Bird has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers Global, with 12 practices and 24 lawyers cited for excellence.

                        Press Release

                        April 29, 2024

                        Alston & Bird Recognized Again as a World Leader in Data Law by Global Data Review
                    
                            Alston & Bird has been recognized once again by Global Data Review (GDR) as one of the world’s leading data law firms in this year’s GDR 100. The firm also ranks among the top 25 “Global Elite” law firms.