Nelson Mullins partner Christina Lehm authored an article for European Business Magazine, " The U.S. Market Is Not One Market: What European Companies Need to Know Before Expanding,” discussing the most common mistakes European companies make when entering the United States.

“For European executives, board members, general counsel, and outside advisers, the practical point is simple: U.S. legal risk rarely appears all at once,” Lehm explained. “It accumulates through early decisions about formation, hiring, contracts, governance, compliance, insurance, and dispute preparedness. If those decisions are made informally, or without state-specific guidance, they can create avoidable cost and problems later.”

She further outlined practice takeaways European companies can take to reduce avoidable U.S. risk.

“The U.S. market offers real opportunity, but it rewards preparation. Legal and operational risk does not begin when a lawsuit is filed. It begins with the first formation decision, the first hire, the first contract, the first customer communication, and the first governance shortcut,” she said. “European companies that invest early in state-specific planning, clear governance, strong contracts, employment compliance, insurance review, and the right U.S. advisory team are better positioned to grow confidently and avoid unnecessary escalation.”

You can read the full article here.