Through our representation of companies with international operations (in the areas of manufacturing, medical devices, and finance, for example), we are consistently faced with specific concerns facing these multi-faceted clients. The following observations top my personal list as we head into 2018.
U.S. laws and regulations (including President Trump's revised international tax treatment) affect the U.S. economy with the ripple effect on other countries’ economies and their monetary markets. This is an ever-changing landscape that needs to be tracked, from transaction to transaction.
We see a critical concern on global data protection and privacy. With the impending implementation of GDPR, and a world where every country / member state has its own data protection regulation, we need to constantly fine tune our legal analysis and advice to having companies understand their connection to data collection and the privacy matters of all stakeholders - customers, vendors, and employees.
On the M&A front, acquisitions are more on the vertical alignment side, with multi-national companies acquiring subsidiaries to broaden, and in some cases complete, their line of products and services, and to complement their on-going infrastructure and fulfill operation’s needs. These new layers are rapidly folded into the organization.
Social media, advertising, and marketing campaigns direct the marketplace, target customers and set trends rather than predicting them.
Payment terms are changing - no longer are funds paid through credit cards with a time lag; now there is immediate cash recognition with SEPA, Bank Transfers, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. The future is here on this one.
Recycling is on a new level of recognition and compliance, with companies being required to provide for proper disposal in OUS markets.
Online e-commerce explosion - where is the storefront? Or the retail store? Distribution channels have changed. Re-organizations are frequent. Could anyone ever have imagined year ago the idea of Sears downsizing or Toys R' Us in bankruptcy protection from creditors?
We must assist clients in navigating these and other emerging issues as we charge forward in 2018 and beyond.