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International

With its central London location, it is perhaps no surprise to learn that Seddons has a large number of both corporate and private clients from overseas and also advises on a number of cross border matters and disputes. A number of our lawyers are multi lingual. We have staff who speak French, Spanish, German, Italian and Czech/Slovak.

Private individuals who are overseas might be interested to learn that Seddons has a number of clients – particularly from the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia – that it advises on private investment in commercial and residential properties. Often this involves setting up an offshore company structured for tax or privacy purposes. To support its East European clients the firm published a guide, in conjunction with leading property agents, in both English and Russian, to purchasing residential property in London.

International assets

Our probate team is experienced in managing cross-border situations where, for example, someone overseas has died leaving assets in the UK or where a UK national dies leaving assets abroad. These cases require close liaison with lawyers in other jurisdictions and Seddons has worked on such cases with lawyers in Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Guyana, Italy, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland and USA.

International families

Our family lawyers advise on the complex situations arising when UK marriages with overseas assets or marriages in foreign jurisdictions with UK assets get into difficulties and the various child custody and contact arrangements that are made more delicate when there is an international element.

International employers and employees

Seddons has particular expertise in advising international companies on the complex employment laws and procedures which continue to change at a fast pace in the UK and across the European Union. Our lawyers have acted for several clients in this respect including the UK subsidiary of an Indian multinational and the UK subsidiary of a US multinational. We also have an extensive network of labour lawyers throughout the European Union so we can co-ordinate advice over a number of jurisdictions. Seddons also has an immigration team that assists both multinational companies and private individuals in this area. Where UK employees are required to spend long periods working overseas they may need help with their UK taxation position and our personal taxation lawyers help in this regard.

International disputes

There is a separate section describing the firm’s substantial expertise and experience in international dispute resolution which also describes the firm’s specialist practice in shipping and commodity trade disputes. We have substantial expertise in cross border disputes and dealing with jurisdictional issues and we are also used to litigating in foreign jurisdictions. For example, in the last five years our senior litigators have worked on cases in Belgium, France, India, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco and USA.

We are also often asked to advise foreign business clients on UK disputes.For example, we are currently advising:

A Chilean company (through a German contact) on a contractual dispute with a UK company
An Italian company on a claim involving damage to their reputation in the UK
On a Privy Council appeal from the Court of Appeal of Bahamas

We also have to deal with enforcement of UK judgements abroad and are currently looking to enforce a judgement in Israel.

For further information, please contact the following partners in the first instance:

Robin Austin - Litigation, shipping and commodity trade disputes
Marvin Simons - International litigation
Tessa Naylor - International property transactions and UK property investment
Adam Miller - UK property investment
David Maxwell - Cross border estate administration and personal tax planning
Deborah Jeff - Family, divorce and children
Alexander Egerton - Employment law

Relevant links from this page:

International dispute resolution and litigation
Shipping and commodity trade disputes
Private investors in residential and commercial property
Immigration