Every food import company needs to hire legal counsel but how do you know which legal partnership is right for you? We are here to explore the ins and outs of preparing a comprehensive proposal for legal services. Bigfood blue white has been importing food into the United States since 2008, specializing in things like food ingredients. We import over 10 containers every month and we are well acquainted with all of the legal issues that come with importing. Because we have been in the import business for so long, we have finally been able to find the right law firm with the right legal partner that can help point us in the right direction for the following legal issues: If there is a particular area of law that your company needs help in, try to find a law firm that specializes in that area. Your RFP should highlight what your top priority is so that you can ensure that you will receive a proposal from a law firm that specializes in that field. International trade laws differ from country to country, but there are a few that are standard throughout the world. There are international trade agreements that are created to set specific rules between the countries that are trading. There are also agreements that are formed between corporations and the government. There an additional layer of complexity added when you have products that are subject to tariffs or embargoes. Tariffs are taxes that are charged on goods that are imported from other countries. Embargoes ban trade with specific countries. Your food import company must be cognizant of any laws, restrictions, rules, or embargoes before you import goods. Offering false information when importing goods can result in criminal charges or fines, so it is important that you hire a law firm that understands international trade laws. International trade law is complicated and it can get messy very quickly. Therefore, you should always consult your lawyer before making an international trade deal. It is important to make sure that you are compliant with the laws in your country as well as the importing country. If any of your goods are banned in the country you are importing to, you can face serious fines, criminal charges, or other repercussions. Before importing goods to another country, you should be aware of customs duties, tariffs, quotas, etc. To comply with United States laws, you need to know where your goods are coming from, the identity of your suppliers, how much the goods are worth, how they are paid for, and how they are shipped. When you import goods, you must provide the necessary documentation such as shipping invoices, packing lists, import licenses, certificates of origin, and certificates of insurance. Custom and import laws are different for every country, so don’t assume that you don’t need to worry about complying with the rules of another country. You are responsible for knowing and following all of the laws. Any time you are working in a different country, there is a risk that your contract is not legally binding. In order to protect yourself and make sure you are protected, make sure that your contracts are watertight. You want to protect your intellectual property, your trademarks, and your goods. Having an experienced lawyer look over any contracts is a great way to protect your company. You may run into legal issues such as false advertising, price fixing, antitrust violations, or misrepresentation. By securing a legal team that has experience with each of these issues, you can rest assured that whatever issues arise, you will have the expertise that you need to overcome them. You need to provide a list of all of the legal issues that your company may run into. Be diligent in outlining what you are looking for in a partnership with a law firm. Any reputable law firm will not only have a specialization, but they will also have years of experience handling your specific legal needs. This will allow you to follow the rules and regulations that are designed to protect your company and international trade partnership. There are certain questions you need to ask before hiring a legal firm: While we do not recommend that you base your RFP solely on price, it is definitely a consideration worth mentioning. If you are struggling to select a law firm, we encourage you to test the waters. Ask for an RFP from multiple law firms so that you can compare. Another aspect to consider is timing. How quickly will your bank release your assets? Our experience has shown that the faster you are able to receive the assets from your bank and deposit them into your bank account, the better off you are. When you find a reputable legal expert, you should value their opinions and impressions. If you don’t feel like a connection is being made with an attorney, or if they don’t seem to care about solving your legal needs, don’t hire them. If you spend some time reviewing the RFP we referenced in the beginning, you will see that the process is not as difficult as it seems. Drafting an effective RFP is not all that different from drafting a regular RFP. Be diligent in your research, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Finding a law firm that you can trust can be a challenge. We hope that this article has provided you with the insight and the tips you need in order to select the best law firm for you.
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