Recently, our organization has begun discussing the possibility of expanding internationally. As we begin to assess the environment and develop a strategy, we want your help in evaluating the laws, and legal processes of properly expanding to new countries.

Tasks may include:

• Identifying the key legal factors for expansion that we may be impacted by including local laws and regulations, taxes, employment, and exporting.
• Identifying barriers to entering a new country.
• Determining the best legal structure for our company and outlining the expansion process.
• Researching options for intellectual property rights and trademark protection of our products/services.
• Creating a framework for contracts involving the international sale of our goods.
• Compile a report including all of the above research and writing to be presented to the owner of the company.

By the end of the project, students should complete the following list of activities (this is basically a retelling of the steps above):

• Identify key legal factors for expansion, as well as barriers to entry.
• Determine the best legal structure for our company, and outlining the expansion process.
• Research intellectual property rights and trademark protection for expanding to new countries.
• Create a framework for contracts involving the international sale of our goods.
• Submitted and presented a report detailing all research completed, risks, mitigations, and recommendations.

Bonus steps would include:

• Researching companies who have expanded to the same countries and determine what legal processes they went through in that process.

Final deliverables should include

• A 30-minute presentation.
• A report detailing all research conducted, risks, mitigations, and recommendations.

Students will connect directly with us for mentorship throughout the project. We will be able to provide answers to questions such as:

• Which countries are we looking to expand into?.
• Are we considering expanding through a merger, acquisition, licensing arrangement, or partnership?
• Input on choices, problems or anything else the students might encounter.