Since moving to London in 1978, Scott James has focused his practice on international business transactions between the United States and the United Kingdom. With a broad knowledge of British and American business and tax laws, Scott works to provide solutions for clients that achieve their international goals within the legal and cultural framework of the county of their foreign investment. Scott deals with the following types of matters:
American Law Services
Scott advises British companies on various areas of American law that can affect their overall success. Such areas include measures to ensure adequate controls and direction of the foreign corporation, steps to reduce risks of U.S. liabilities and to enhance profitability by conforming commercial practices to U.S. laws and expectations, tax planning to maximize returns, and assisting company personnel to obtain the proper U.S. visas for working in the United States. Scott's extensive experience in England helps him to give American legal advice in the context of the UK legal and tax environment so that clients have a special understanding of the issues involved and the solutions proposed.
Typical of the type of issues on which Scott advises is U.S. product liability. Many of the concepts in this area of the law are common to the United States and the United Kingdom. However, the application and effect of the specific principles in the United States can have dramatically surprising effects on a British company familiar only with English law. Those differences—throughout the product design, manufacturing, marketing and sale processes—can be addressed successfully with forethought and planning. This is where Scott's cross-border legal expertise can assist clients most effectively.
English/EU Law Services
Scott advises American companies on various areas of English and EU law that can affect the success of their businesses.
In addition to negotiating and advising on joint ventures and distribution agreements, Scott advises American companies that have businesses in the United Kingdom on such matters as:
- UK and EU regulatory requirements for marketing and selling products in or, if necessary, withdrawing products from European markets.
- Corporate and commercial issues that may affect the control, direction and return from a business in the United Kingdom; often these are issues that are played out against the background of U.S. business laws.
- Commercial laws that are different enough to upset assumptions fostered by the American business environment concerning how a business is run. Examples of these types of issues are obtaining work permits for transferring employees and dealing with the effect of the UK Unfair Contract Terms Act.
Scott regularly speaks in the United Kingdom to industry groups, to trade associations and at government-sponsored seminars on legal topics related to doing business in the United States, such as product liability, agent and distributor relationships, acquiring a U.S. company, commercial points for trading with a U.S. company, and U.S. business visas.