As the globalization of our economy continues, businesses are increasingly faced with challenging legal issues. The International Law practice encompasses all aspects of business law, labor and employment law, and litigation with an emphasis on intellectual property, government relations, and immigration law.
The International Law team is a cohesive group of professionals uniquely qualified to analyze, document and close a deal. Having served the region for more than 90 years, the firm represents more than 70 percent of West Virginia’s top 100 employers and has strong relationships with important government and private industry leaders.
Lawyers draw upon diverse resources to assist international businesses to establish a presence in the region, and assist domestic businesses intending to expand internationally. As a member of TerraLex®, a network of leading law firms around the world, the firm provides our clients access to country-specific information, qualified legal referrals and global experience.
Corporate and Commercial Transactions
Intellectual Property
An important aspect of International Law is protecting intangible business assets, such as technology, processes, names, logos and identifying indicia. To help clients protect these assets, lawyers assist with the preparation and prosecution of patent and trademark applications and searches, validity and infringement opinions, copyright registration, licenses, non-disclosure agreements, trade secret protection and intellectual property litigation.
Government Relations
Lawyers help clients obtain government funding or underwriting, and assist in streamlining environmental and tax matters. Where change in current law is beneficial, lawyers draft proposed new rules or legislation, and lobby for their enactment. Many of the firm's lawyers have served in government: the state development office, the state legislature, assistant attorneys general, counsel to the governor and counsel to United States senators; they also have experience in local, state, congressional and presidential campaigns.
Immigration Law
Steptoe & Johnson works to help clients, their key personnel and family members enter and remain in the United States. The firm can help to process visa requests, and can take advantage of membership in the American Immigration Lawyers Association to find answers or specialized counsel in more complex matters. In every instance, the firm's objective is to help clients cut through bureaucratic barriers in a timely and cost effective way.
