Practice Areas & Industries: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

Practice/Industry Group Overview

Luce Forward has one of the most active and comprehensive international practice groups in Southern California. Our attorneys have many years of experience in a broad range of international business transactions and resolution of international controversies. Members of the practice group are fluent in Spanish, German and French. Our team includes attorneys who are licensed in Mexico.
 
Luce Forward lawyers are involved in a wide range of innovative international transactions. We are helping U.S. and foreign companies form joint ventures and strategic alliances, create worldwide distribution systems, establish worldwide operations, participate in international mergers and acquisitions, manage cross-border lending and leasing transactions, structure international intellectual property-licensing strategies, developing and administering international trademark ad patent portfolios, and create profit-enhancing international tax structures.
 
We have represented both U.S. and foreign parties in cross-border litigation and arbitration. In cross-border litigation on behalf of U.S. clients, we focus on integration of U.S. and foreign legal issues, as well as service, discovery and enforcement issues outside of the U.S. For foreign parties, we have substantial expertise on jurisdictional issues.
 
We work closely with fellow members of the Pacific Rim Advisory Council (PRAC), a unique strategic alliance within the global legal community, with unparalleled expertise on the legal and business issues facing the broad Pacific Rim region. PRAC consists of 30 top-tier, independent law firms, each of which provides legal services to major international companies conducting substantial business across the Pacific Rim region. Each PRAC member firm is a premier law firm in its country or region, with broad expertise in local law. For information on PRAC member firms, see www.prac.org

PRAC member firms have offices in over 60 international commercial centers in the following countries: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Venezuela and Vietnam.
 
PRAC member firms meet twice a year and have strong personal relationships among the partners of the member firms. All of the PRAC members are electronically linked together by practice specialty for faster response. Through PRAC, member firms can draw on the expertise of each of the other firms to provide a seamless, integrated service. Luce Forward is a founding member of PRAC.
 
Representative Matters

Joint Ventures
 
Structured joint venture among major U.S. energy companies and Mexican company for development of cross-border natural gas pipeline and retail natural gas distribution in Mexico
 
Reorganized a U.S. joint venture between a NYSE company and a Belgian public company for the manufacture of industrial films, on behalf of the U.S. party

Structured joint venture between U.S. company and European-based company for the production, distribution and finance of major Hollywood blockbuster movies
 
Structured steel manufacturing joint venture in Brazil for U.S. industrial company
 
Structured joint venture between major U.S. discount retailer and Mexican partner to open multiple stores in Mexico
 
Distribution
 
Represented Daimler-Chrysler de Mexico in a 5-year exclusive vehicle importation and distribution agreement with Hyundai Motor Company of Korea

Represent Arab Radio & Television and affiliated companies in the distribution of television programming into North America, including via DBS and cable distribution platforms
 
Represent a variety of domestic and International companies in the acquisition and distribution of television broadcast rights of major sporting events (e.g., FIFA 2002 World Cup Games, IAFF Golden League Events, IAFF WAS Games, FIFA Confederation Games, FIBA Events, Brazilian Soccer Events, EURO Games). Primary distribution areas include the Middle East, Africa and Latin America
 
Mergers and Acquisitions
 
Represented Callaway Golf (NYSE) in acquisition of Callaway distributors in Korea, France and Germany
 
Cross-Border Commercial Transactions
 
Represented Heller Financial, Inc., a major non-bank lender, as to its Mexico lending program, and advice on non-recourse loans in Mexico secured by lease revenues
 
Represented major U.S. bank on Mexican documentation to secure U.S. maquiladora loan, including both real property and equipment in Mexico
 
Intellectual Property
 
Advised start-up transportation technology company on a global patent protection and commercialization strategy
 
Advised Canadian digital asset management software company on license of software and enterprise solution to EMI/Capitol Records
 
Developing and maintaining international trademark portfolio for top ten internet retailer and for international medical instrument manufacturer
 
Developing international patent portfolio for emerging wireless telecommunications company
 
Handling United States patent applications for major Japanese corporations, including $5 billion semiconductor company and $2 billion software and electronics company
 
Represented major removable memory manufacturer with IP protection, enforcement and technology transfer
 
International Dispute Resolution
 
Represented Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE), the fourth largest hamburger chain in the U.S., regarding the settlement of disputes with franchisees in Indonesia, People's Republic of China, Singapore, and Thailand, in conjunction with six of the PRAC affiliates
 
Represented Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE) in structuring a global settlement with three Mexican franchisees after five years of trademark infringement litigation in the U.S. and Mexico