Europe
Bridging European Business with American Legal Excellence
Your Legal Partner for Transatlantic Growth
Nelson Mullins provides comprehensive legal services to European companies operating in the United States and American businesses expanding to Europe.
Our Europe team is uniquely positioned with native European attorneys leading the team, providing authentic cultural insights, native language capabilities, and a deep understanding of European business practices, regulatory frameworks, and commercial customs. This genuine European perspective, combined with our extensive U.S. legal knowledge, ensures seamless cross-border representation.
Authentic European Insight
Cultural & Regulatory Knowledge
Our attorneys possess a deep understanding of European business cultures and regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, EU AI Act, and emerging digital regulations.
Industry Experience
Extensive experience serving European clients across automotive, environmental, telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services sectors.
Language Capabilities & Native European Leadership
Our Europe team is led by native Europeans who bring authentic cultural understanding and language fluency to every engagement. Our team includes attorneys fluent in multiple European languages and who are intimately familiar with diverse business and social cultures throughout Europe.
Strategic Partnerships
Access to European counsel providing seamless cross-border representation.
U.S. Market Access
Comprehensive support for European companies seeking to establish, grow, or optimize their U.S. operations across multiple states and jurisdictions.
Regulatory Compliance
Navigate complex U.S. regulatory requirements while maintaining compliance with European standards and cross-border legal obligations.
U.S. Market Entry and Foreign Direct Investment
We provide comprehensive support for European companies establishing operations in the United States, from initial planning to full market entry.
- U.S. subsidiary formation and structuring
- Site selection and incentive negotiations
- Regulatory compliance and licensing
- Environmental compliance and permitting
- Construction law advice
- Employment law and HR compliance
- Real estate acquisition and leasing
- Intellectual property protection
After an investment decision is made, we support you in obtaining additional aid in areas such as corporate, finance, environmental, real estate, employment and labor, immigration, international trade, contracts, construction, and intellectual property law.
Global Mobility and Immigration
- Executive and specialist visa petitions
- Investor visa programs (E-2, EB-5)
- Intracompany transfer visas
- Global mobility planning
- Compliance and documentation
Economic Development Services
Our economic development services start with an initial review of the project information and conferring with the project team to establish preferences and negotiation strategies. We will review initial incentive proposals from the target states and local governments, followed by identifying and negotiating any additional cash and non-cash discretionary state and local incentives available, drafting, reviewing, revising and negotiating the definitive state and local incentive agreements, including any applicable property tax abatement agreements.
As part of the scope of services we can conduct real estate due diligence of the preferred site, such as a title search, obtaining and reviewing a title insurance commitment, obtaining and reviewing any environmental site assessment reports, obtaining boundary and ALTA surveys, etc., followed by drafting and negotiating the real estate purchase or lease agreement, as applicable. This scope of work may also include involvement in negotiating rail services and siding agreements and assisting with obtaining commitment letters from the utility providers (power, gas, water, sewer, roads, communications), and negotiating any required easements.
Once the project moves forward, we will discuss with the project team the preferred construction contracting methodology and negotiate and draft engineering, procurement, and construction contracts.
As part of the project implementation phase, we can also review the project environmental discharge information and confer with the client team to establish environmental permit requirements for the project. We often work with environmental consultants, if and as necessary, to prepare and file applications for required environmental permits; and communicate with relevant government officials to secure the required permits.
M&A
Whether you are buying, selling, or merging with another business, Nelson Mullins’ M&A team has the experience and market knowledge you need to successfully structure and close deals. Our services include industry consolidation, executing spin-offs, carve-outs, and divestitures, and partnering with private equity groups.
Our experienced international team guides clients through complex cross-border business transactions, ensuring compliance with both U.S. and European regulations. We help clients with
- Foreign direct investment structuring
- Cross-border mergers and acquisitions
- Joint ventures and strategic alliances
- International contract negotiations
- Corporate governance and compliance
International Trade
We help clients manage complex issues for their global business activities, including
- Importing goods into the United States
- Exporting military defense articles, defense services, or "dual-use" military and commercial goods and services
- Engaging in international transactions with foreign enterprises, foreign nationals, and entities
- Maintaining global import and export regulatory trade compliance programs
- Complying with licensing and compliance agencies, bureaus, and departments of the U.S.
Our experienced team of international trade attorneys help clients navigate a wide-range of needs
- Detentions, seizures and forfeitures of merchandise by CBP for alleged violation of federal laws and regulations
- Responses to Customs requests for information, rate advances, focused assessments, audits, Post Entry Amendments, and Post Summary Corrections
- Establishment of Foreign Trade Zones, Subzones, and Alternative Site Frameworks (applications/ activation/compliance)
- Export and temporary import of defense articles and defense services before U.S. Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) per The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
- Sanctions of embargoed countries, entities, specially designated nationals, and blocked persons under U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Executive Orders.
- Tariff classification, valuation, transfer-pricing, dutiable assists, royalties, country of origin determinations, substantial transformation analysis, labeling and marking rules and related ruling requests before U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Qualification for Importer Self-Assessment program (ISA) and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) for assurance of supply chain security
Tax
Leveraging our extensive tax experience, we offer a range of services including advising buyers, sellers, and private equity funds on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs, split-offs, and other business combination and divestiture transactions. We offer crucial insights to issuers, underwriters, and placement agents in the tax aspects of capital market issuances, redemptions, solicitations, and restructuring.
Our attorneys help minimize global tax burdens through strategic international tax planning and compliance services tailored to cross-border operations, including
- Tax-efficient structure planning
- Transfer pricing strategies
- FATCA and CRS compliance
- Treaty planning and optimization
- International tax dispute resolution
Litigation and Arbitration
At Nelson Mullins, our business litigation strategy starts with understanding what matters most—your business and your goals. We weigh the costs and benefits of litigation against alternative solutions, helping you move forward with confidence.
- Alternative dispute resolution - resolving complex cross-border disputes through international or local arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
- Integrated approach to potential issues analysis – providing a team approach and perspectives from Nelson Mullins attorneys in related practice areas such as finance, corporate governance, environmental, government relations, real estate, bankruptcy, contract breach and partnership disputes, product liability, employment, false advertising and deceptive and unfair trade practices, and defense of whistleblower cases, and corporate matters
- Expert witnesses and opinions – identifying and hiring experts who give valuable advice and can serve as litigation witnesses
- Developing Internal and external communications plans with your executive management, board of directors, customers, and if necessary, regulators or law enforcement
- Joint defense strategies – providing strategic guidance to clients and co-counsel in joint defense to coordinate strategies and create efficiencies
- Litigation plans and budgets – providing strategic litigation plans and budgets to help "right size" the pursuit or defense of matters
- Opposing expert strategies – including investigating and examining opposing experts
- Preventive measures to help prevent litigation before it arises
- Public relations strategy, including timing, media approach, and content
- Time-sensitive investigations – conducting corporate investigations and assisting clients with conducting their own internal investigations
- Witness depositions – preparing witnesses for and defending depositions of corporate, executive and managerial witnesses and conducting depositions of adverse and non-party witnesses
Employment Law
We have more than 55 attorneys practicing labor, employment, benefits and immigration law who are seasoned and battle-hardened front line practitioners before the NLRB, EEOC, state, and federal courts, and arbitrators. Our clients also have access to the broader Nelson Mullins platform and colleagues with experience across a range of practice areas, including ERISA, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits, Corporate, Tax, Litigation, and Government Relations.
Our team works with a diverse group of employers—some with large in-house legal, human resources, and labor/employee relations teams, and others with limited or no in-house support. We collaborate directly with your management team to increase efficiencies and synergies that support your business and employee relations goals.
Our clients have included public and private companies across a range of industry sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Distribution and Transportation
- Healthcare
- Medical Devices
- Financial Services
- Construction
- Real Estate
- Utilities
- Consulting and Outsourcing
- Restaurant and Retail Industries
- Colleges and Universities
Authentic European Insight
Cultural & Regulatory Knowledge
Our attorneys possess a deep understanding of European business cultures and regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, EU AI Act, and emerging digital regulations.
Industry Experience
Extensive experience serving European clients across automotive, environmental, telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services sectors.
Language Capabilities & Native European Leadership
Our Europe team is led by native Europeans who bring authentic cultural understanding and language fluency to every engagement. Our team includes attorneys fluent in multiple European languages and who are intimately familiar with diverse business and social cultures throughout Europe.
Strategic Partnerships
Access to European counsel providing seamless cross-border representation.
U.S. Market Access
Comprehensive support for European companies seeking to establish, grow, or optimize their U.S. operations across multiple states and jurisdictions.
Regulatory Compliance
Navigate complex U.S. regulatory requirements while maintaining compliance with European standards and cross-border legal obligations.
U.S. Market Entry and Foreign Direct Investment
We provide comprehensive support for European companies establishing operations in the United States, from initial planning to full market entry.
- U.S. subsidiary formation and structuring
- Site selection and incentive negotiations
- Regulatory compliance and licensing
- Environmental compliance and permitting
- Construction law advice
- Employment law and HR compliance
- Real estate acquisition and leasing
- Intellectual property protection
After an investment decision is made, we support you in obtaining additional aid in areas such as corporate, finance, environmental, real estate, employment and labor, immigration, international trade, contracts, construction, and intellectual property law.
Global Mobility and Immigration
- Executive and specialist visa petitions
- Investor visa programs (E-2, EB-5)
- Intracompany transfer visas
- Global mobility planning
- Compliance and documentation
Economic Development Services
Our economic development services start with an initial review of the project information and conferring with the project team to establish preferences and negotiation strategies. We will review initial incentive proposals from the target states and local governments, followed by identifying and negotiating any additional cash and non-cash discretionary state and local incentives available, drafting, reviewing, revising and negotiating the definitive state and local incentive agreements, including any applicable property tax abatement agreements.
As part of the scope of services we can conduct real estate due diligence of the preferred site, such as a title search, obtaining and reviewing a title insurance commitment, obtaining and reviewing any environmental site assessment reports, obtaining boundary and ALTA surveys, etc., followed by drafting and negotiating the real estate purchase or lease agreement, as applicable. This scope of work may also include involvement in negotiating rail services and siding agreements and assisting with obtaining commitment letters from the utility providers (power, gas, water, sewer, roads, communications), and negotiating any required easements.
Once the project moves forward, we will discuss with the project team the preferred construction contracting methodology and negotiate and draft engineering, procurement, and construction contracts.
As part of the project implementation phase, we can also review the project environmental discharge information and confer with the client team to establish environmental permit requirements for the project. We often work with environmental consultants, if and as necessary, to prepare and file applications for required environmental permits; and communicate with relevant government officials to secure the required permits.
M&A
Whether you are buying, selling, or merging with another business, Nelson Mullins’ M&A team has the experience and market knowledge you need to successfully structure and close deals. Our services include industry consolidation, executing spin-offs, carve-outs, and divestitures, and partnering with private equity groups.
Our experienced international team guides clients through complex cross-border business transactions, ensuring compliance with both U.S. and European regulations. We help clients with
- Foreign direct investment structuring
- Cross-border mergers and acquisitions
- Joint ventures and strategic alliances
- International contract negotiations
- Corporate governance and compliance
International Trade
We help clients manage complex issues for their global business activities, including
- Importing goods into the United States
- Exporting military defense articles, defense services, or "dual-use" military and commercial goods and services
- Engaging in international transactions with foreign enterprises, foreign nationals, and entities
- Maintaining global import and export regulatory trade compliance programs
- Complying with licensing and compliance agencies, bureaus, and departments of the U.S.
Our experienced team of international trade attorneys help clients navigate a wide-range of needs
- Detentions, seizures and forfeitures of merchandise by CBP for alleged violation of federal laws and regulations
- Responses to Customs requests for information, rate advances, focused assessments, audits, Post Entry Amendments, and Post Summary Corrections
- Establishment of Foreign Trade Zones, Subzones, and Alternative Site Frameworks (applications/ activation/compliance)
- Export and temporary import of defense articles and defense services before U.S. Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) per The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
- Sanctions of embargoed countries, entities, specially designated nationals, and blocked persons under U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Executive Orders.
- Tariff classification, valuation, transfer-pricing, dutiable assists, royalties, country of origin determinations, substantial transformation analysis, labeling and marking rules and related ruling requests before U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Qualification for Importer Self-Assessment program (ISA) and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) for assurance of supply chain security
Tax
Leveraging our extensive tax experience, we offer a range of services including advising buyers, sellers, and private equity funds on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs, split-offs, and other business combination and divestiture transactions. We offer crucial insights to issuers, underwriters, and placement agents in the tax aspects of capital market issuances, redemptions, solicitations, and restructuring.
Our attorneys help minimize global tax burdens through strategic international tax planning and compliance services tailored to cross-border operations, including
- Tax-efficient structure planning
- Transfer pricing strategies
- FATCA and CRS compliance
- Treaty planning and optimization
- International tax dispute resolution
Litigation and Arbitration
At Nelson Mullins, our business litigation strategy starts with understanding what matters most—your business and your goals. We weigh the costs and benefits of litigation against alternative solutions, helping you move forward with confidence.
- Alternative dispute resolution - resolving complex cross-border disputes through international or local arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
- Integrated approach to potential issues analysis – providing a team approach and perspectives from Nelson Mullins attorneys in related practice areas such as finance, corporate governance, environmental, government relations, real estate, bankruptcy, contract breach and partnership disputes, product liability, employment, false advertising and deceptive and unfair trade practices, and defense of whistleblower cases, and corporate matters
- Expert witnesses and opinions – identifying and hiring experts who give valuable advice and can serve as litigation witnesses
- Developing Internal and external communications plans with your executive management, board of directors, customers, and if necessary, regulators or law enforcement
- Joint defense strategies – providing strategic guidance to clients and co-counsel in joint defense to coordinate strategies and create efficiencies
- Litigation plans and budgets – providing strategic litigation plans and budgets to help "right size" the pursuit or defense of matters
- Opposing expert strategies – including investigating and examining opposing experts
- Preventive measures to help prevent litigation before it arises
- Public relations strategy, including timing, media approach, and content
- Time-sensitive investigations – conducting corporate investigations and assisting clients with conducting their own internal investigations
- Witness depositions – preparing witnesses for and defending depositions of corporate, executive and managerial witnesses and conducting depositions of adverse and non-party witnesses
Employment Law
We have more than 55 attorneys practicing labor, employment, benefits and immigration law who are seasoned and battle-hardened front line practitioners before the NLRB, EEOC, state, and federal courts, and arbitrators. Our clients also have access to the broader Nelson Mullins platform and colleagues with experience across a range of practice areas, including ERISA, Executive Compensation, Employee Benefits, Corporate, Tax, Litigation, and Government Relations.
Our team works with a diverse group of employers—some with large in-house legal, human resources, and labor/employee relations teams, and others with limited or no in-house support. We collaborate directly with your management team to increase efficiencies and synergies that support your business and employee relations goals.
Our clients have included public and private companies across a range of industry sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Distribution and Transportation
- Healthcare
- Medical Devices
- Financial Services
- Construction
- Real Estate
- Utilities
- Consulting and Outsourcing
- Restaurant and Retail Industries
- Colleges and Universities
- Practical Business Approach: We apply legal knowledge with practical business solutions. Our flexibility, business sense, and tireless advocacy contribute to client success.
- Relationship-Focused Service: Relationships matter to us. We work where you need us, with depth and breadth of resources, treating your business as our business and working tirelessly for your success.
- Proven International Experience: Our team has facilitated visa plans with U.S. consulates in Germany, France, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea for multinational manufacturing enterprises.
- Comprehensive Service Offering: From pre-investment planning to post-acquisition integration, we provide end-to-end legal support for all aspects of international business expansion and operations.
- Native European Leadership: Our practice is led by attorneys who are native Europeans, providing authentic cultural insights and deep understanding of European business practices, regulatory environments, and commercial customs. This native knowledge ensures seamless communication and culturally appropriate legal strategies.
Practice Contacts
