International contracts
Agreements between parties in different countries, written so everyone knows which law applies and where disputes go.
MaryTannous
Lawyer in international contracts and disputes
- Europe
- Middle East
- North America
- Africa
- Gulf
- Asia
About
I advise companies and families whose legal questions cross borders: contracts between parties in different countries, disputes heard far from home, and estates spread across jurisdictions. Twelve years of practice, working in three languages.
- Languages
- English FluentFrench FluentArabic Native
- Admitted to practise
- Bar admission to be confirmed
- Memberships
- International arbitration association (placeholder)
What I am asked to do
Four kinds of problem, all of which stop being simple the moment a second country is involved.
Disputes and arbitration
Commercial disputes and international arbitration, through to enforcing awards where the assets are.
Companies and investment
Company structuring, market entry and governance when owners and operations sit in different places.
International families and estates
Wills, succession and property for families whose lives and assets span more than one country.
Day to day, this means
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- Arbitration advocacy
- Legal research and written opinions
- Due diligence
- Coordinating counsel across jurisdictions
- Settlement negotiation
Twelve years, four posts
2012 – 2013
Trainee lawyer
Placeholder Law Firm, City, Country
- Legal research, court filings and client correspondence in three languages
2013 – 2016
Associate, commercial litigation
Placeholder Law Firm, City, Country
- Drafted pleadings and legal opinions in commercial and contract disputes
- Advised foreign clients on local procedure and enforcement
2016 – 2021
Senior associate, international arbitration
Placeholder International Law Firm, City, Country
- Ran arbitrations under major institutional rules, from filing to award
- Led due diligence for acquisitions involving companies in four regions
- Supervised and trained a team of three associates
2021 – now
Founder and principal lawyer
Tannous Legal, City, Country, with clients worldwide
- Advise companies on cross-border contracts, joint ventures and market entry
- Represent clients in international arbitration and enforcement of awards
- Handle international successions for families with assets in several countries
Every file has at least two countries in it.
Where the work happens
Client names and identifying details are withheld for confidentiality. The routes are the jurisdictions each matter ran between.
Ending a distribution agreement without losing the market
EuropeMiddle East
A manufacturer wanted to end an exclusive distribution agreement with a partner in another region. We reviewed the termination rights, negotiated an exit, and kept arbitration as a fallback.
Settled before the hearing, with a transition period for the client's customers.
Settling an estate with property in two countries
North AmericaEurope
Heirs living on one continent inherited an apartment and bank accounts on another. We coordinated the succession steps in both countries and handled the transfer by power of attorney.
Property transferred to the heirs within a year, without court litigation.
Structuring a joint venture between three companies in three countries
AfricaEuropeGulf
Three family-owned businesses wanted to build a logistics venture together. We drafted the shareholder agreement, agreed the governing law, and designed how decisions get made when the partners disagree.
Signed in four months, with a deadlock procedure both sides accepted.
Enforcing an arbitral award where the debtor kept its assets
EuropeAsia
A supplier had won an award but could not collect it. We traced where the debtor held assets and worked with local counsel to have the award recognised and enforced there.
Award recognised and the full amount recovered.
Education
2017
Certificate in International Arbitration
Placeholder Institute
2013
LL.M. in International Commercial Law
Placeholder University
2012
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Placeholder University
Writing
- Choice-of-law clauses that hold up when the deal goes wrong
Placeholder Law Review
- Enforcing an arbitral award in a country you have never been to
Placeholder Arbitration Journal
- When an estate sits in two countries: a practical checklist for heirs
Placeholder Family Law Quarterly
Tell me what you are dealing with
A first conversation costs nothing and usually makes the next step clearer.
[email protected]- Phone+00 000 000 000
- ElsewhereLinkedIn
- WhereCity, Country. Working with clients worldwide