In today's linked world, international legal disputes have become far more frequent. Courtrooms are now the site of complex, cross-border business interactions in which companies compete—and sometimes conspire—to win.

The interconnectedness we have through commerce means that we have many opportunities to conduct business in different places and cultures. Despite the common belief that business transcends boundaries, the reality is that when we conduct business in different places, we encounter their unique customs, laws, and regulations. And those differences can present unique legal challenges when cross-border disputes arise.

When businesses go global, they frequently run into legal problems that don't stop at the border. They can end up in court over all sorts of things, such as:

• Contracts that were supposed to be governed by the laws of different countries but were not.
• Intellectual property infringements that occur through the Internet, with no clear way to determine which country's laws apply.
• Disagreements over commerce and contracts
• Intellectual property rights infringement
• International investments disputes
• Complications involving cross-border mergers and acquisitions
• Disputes arising from international construction projects
• Employment and labor relations issues in multiple countries

These disputes can only be resolved if a sophisticated comprehension of several legal systems, cultural mores, and international business practices is brought to bear. Companies protect themselves by hiring armies of lawyers skilled in international law, but even they may find some of the challenges to be quite formidable.

2. Common Cross-Border Dispute Arenas

Commercial and Contractual Disputes

One of the areas most frequently beset by cross-border legal conflict is commercial and contractual disputes. These can stretch from mere disagreements over the interpretation of contract terms to much larger allegations of breach of contract. Companies arm themselves with legal talent to protect their interests, but the specialized knowledge and experience required to handle the more complex international contracts often go beyond that possessed by a typical companies lawyer.

Intellectual Property Rights Violations

In an age when many enterprises consider intellectual property as their most valuable asset, the cross-border IP disputes we've seen of late seem to be the kind that are, quite literally, made to order. These disputes often break down along the lines of patents, trademarks, or copyright issues and, just as often, tend to involve more than one national jurisdiction. The companies embroiled in these disputes hire lots of lawyers and work their way through the international IP law maze.

International Investments and Financial Transactions