Business is global, and we are here to support our clients’ cross-border legal needs. We have the resources to support our clients with international business goals, as well as significant experience working with foreign-based companies when their plans bring them to the United States.

Global Capabilities

From transactions that enable growth to protecting rights in a business dispute, the firm is experienced working with clients from a variety of countries. A few areas in which Bell Nunnally has specific relevant experience include: immigration, business and real estate, labor and employment, litigation and intellectual property.

Additionally, Bell Nunnally is a member of Legalink. Legalink is a global law firm network with members from more than 60 countries and 70 international cities. When our clients need representation in cities around the globe, we can tap into this extensive network to find local counsel to meet their needs.

Immigration

From obtaining visas to working with immigrant investors, our immigration practice team is experienced helping companies comply with local, state and federal immigration laws. We also counsel clients on immigration consequences of corporate restructuring and assist with outbound immigration issues.

Business and Real Estate

We regularly assist clients in cross-border corporate and real estate transactions, including international and U.S. companies in the acquisition, disposition, lease and development of real estate properties for hospitality, retail, industrial and residential projects throughout Mexico and Latin America. We have also represented a Mexican telecommunications entity and its owner in cross-border transactions and various corporate matters. Our work includes helping a variety of foreign-based companies with their expansion and their ongoing business operations in the United States. From entity formation and employment matters to commercial contracts and raising capital, we offer sophisticated advice and counsel for cross-border transactions.

Labor and Employment

Working with companies across all types of industries, including retail, hospitality and technology, we assist companies that often have workforces distributed across the country. Our practice has grown to help numerous international businesses with headquarters in jurisdictions as diverse as Australia and India to expand into U.S. markets, while making sure they effectively navigate the complicated federal, state and local laws governing the employer-employee relationship.   

Litigation

We maintain a broad-based litigation and appeals practice with expertise in numerous areas, ranging from securities and regulatory matters to real estate and tax issues. We have guided clients through legal matters in Canada, Mexico and as far away as Nigeria. We have represented a Canadian crown corporation in numerous, international lawsuits against U.S. entities. We help foreign companies doing business in the U.S. with regional disputes and work with our global Legalink network partners to represent U.S.-based companies that have disputes in other countries where we do not have a presence.

International Trademark/IP Portfolios

The Bell Nunnally intellectual property team helps artists and corporate brands manage intellectual capital, including trademarks and copyrights, and other intangible assets both domestically and internationally. We have represented national and international luxury brands; alcohol, food and beverage companies; and others in advertising clearance, copyright and trademark management and licensing, domain name disputes, Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take down and enforcement actions, special events, promotions, sponsorships, endorsements and product placement matters. We have represented children’s literary and animated properties in connection with United States and international distribution, licensing and ancillary rights matters.

Representative Experience

    • Represented the Belgian franchisee of a global commercial cleaning franchisor in Texas state court and the Dallas Court of Appeals.
    • Represented, as part of a legal team, an LLC and one of its members in claims against a large, Chinese state-owned enterprise, as well as several of its "subsidiaries." In pursuing the arbitration claim, the team also defended its clients in two federal proceedings in the Northern District of Texas, one federal proceeding in the Northern District of California, one proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and one appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The panel awarded the claimants more than $68 million (confirmed in 2018).
    • Represented a global real estate asset manager in the disposition of approx. 700 hectares in Mexico. This was a complex $27 million transaction split between two sellers and the purchaser.
    • Represented a U.S.-based telecommunication company in the due diligence and acquisition of several real estate assets for its operations in the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
    • Represented a U.S.-based, full-service asset management firm in the acquisition and development of its Mexican real estate portfolio in the retail, industrial and hospitality industries with a net asset value average of $800 million and, later, in the divestiture of the portfolio.
    • Oversaw as lead real estate counsel the domestication process of several Mexican entities into U.S. entities, managing the entire real estate portion of the transaction, including dealing with more than 60 developed and operating properties located in four different states and the creation of more than 20 vehicles to own the properties.
    • Served as lead real estate counsel to a leading U.S. public timeshare company in the registration of their timeshare product in Mexico. The process involved working with the client’s legal and tax departments to address the many corporate and tax implications that the timeshare sales would trigger in both the U.S. and Mexico.
    • Participated in the restructuring of a U.S.-based REIT’s Mexican portfolio to allow tax savings in excess of $80 million.
    • Served as lead counsel to a U.S.-based, full-service asset management firm in the sale of an industrial park located in Mexicali, including extensive due diligence, as well as remediating the property due to environmental issues and addressing several water rights matters prior to the sale.
    • Handled the response to a Consumer Protection Agency inspection visit and temporary closure of timeshare sales related to several Mexican resorts owned by a leading, U.S.-based public timeshare company. The response challenged the visit before local authorities based on its lack of merits, provided proof of registration, and argued a lack of proper procedure during the inspection visit.
    • Served as lead counsel in the acquisition of several Mexican companies, including resolving several tax, labor and employment, and corporate inconsistencies.
    • Represented a U.S.-based, full-service asset management firm in the sale of their Mexican portfolio.
    • Represented a real estate conglomerate in the tax restructuring of its exclusive luxury vacation housing community in Los Cabos, Mexico.
    • Led due diligence for a major development in Los Cabos, Mexico.
    • Assisted in the development of legal strategies for a U.S.-based real estate client dealing with low-income residential real estate in the center of Mexico.
    • Participated in the purchase and development of a housing joint venture in Mexico on behalf of the real estate division of a major U.S.-based oil company.
    • Advised a U.S.-based developer in connection with property issues related to the formalization of easements that involved ejido land along the U.S.-Mexico border.
    • Served as Mexican counsel to a U.S.-based, full-service asset management firm in its prospective acquisition and debt restructuring of a Mexican entity in the hospitality industry.
    • Co-led the acquisition and sale of one of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in Los Cabos, Mexico.
    • Advised a U.S.-based real estate developer in the acquisition and development of a luxury hotel and residences project in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
    • Successfully defended a global logistics company in a federal jury trial involving allegations of FMLA and disability discrimination by a former human resources employee, with the jury issuing a final verdict finding in favor of the company.
    • Led a business processing outsourcing company in its $40 million acquisition of a Canadian company.
    • Defended multiple global oil and gas companies in class action royalty disputes.

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