North America international desk

Our legal services for clients in North America

We provide a wide range of English law services to North American clients. Common services that US‑ and Canada‑based clients trust us to deliver include:

Aviation and transport

Our award-winning aviation and transport lawyers offer a one-stop shop for clients based in the UK and North America and are highly experienced in advising on a very broad range of aviation matters such as:

• Regulatory matters and commercial disputes;
• Product liability claims;
• Subrogation recovery;
• General aviation, airline, airport, engineering and manufacturing issues.

Corporate and commercial

We support North American corporates, investors and entrepreneurs with the full spectrum of UK corporate and commercial legal services, including:

• Commercial contracts for UK operations, including supply, distribution, agency and services agreements
• Shareholder and investment agreements
• Private equity and venture capital transactions involving UK targets
• Ongoing commercial risk management for cross‑border trading
• Strategic advisory for UK growth and expansion plans

Dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration

We represent North American individuals and businesses involved in UK‑related disputes, offering strategic and commercially focused dispute resolution. Our experience includes:

• UK commercial litigation, including contract and shareholder disputes
• Cross‑border disputes involving UK and North American parties
• International arbitration and enforcement of awards in the UK
• Civil fraud, asset tracing and recovery involving UK assets
• Alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and negotiated settlements.

Employment and mobility

We advise North American employers and senior executives on the UK employment issues that arise from international expansion and mobility, including:

• UK employment law obligations for North American employers
• Cross‑border employment contracts and executive arrangements
• Workforce migration, relocation and mobility considerations
• Employment disputes, whistleblowing and regulatory issues
• Senior executive and board‑level advisory.

Insurance and reinsurance

We have a proven track record of advising on complex high value insurance and reinsurance claims and disputes and we are well versed in arbitrations, mediations and court proceedings at all levels. We have been involved with large losses and catastrophes around the world, including North America.

We regularly support UK and international insurers and reinsurers on North America‑related matters involving:

• Underlying losses in North American jurisdictions;
• Reinsurance placements spanning multiple markets;
• Coordination with foreign counsel, brokers, and experts;
• Conflicts of law and jurisdictional challenges.

International family law

Our international family and divorce lawyers specialise in:

• Complex financial settlements involving UK–US/Canadian households
• Divorce, separation and asset division with cross‑jurisdictional elements
• International child arrangements and residency issues
• Support for high‑net‑worth or reputation‑sensitive matters

International private wealth

Our leading international private wealth lawyers are highly experienced in advising high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals on issues such as:

• Cross‑border wealth structuring
• International tax considerations
• Wills, trusts, estates, inheritance and succession planning between the North America and the rest of the world
• Wealth preservation strategies

Launching a business in the UK

We support North American businesses at every stage of establishing and growing a UK presence. Our team advises on:

• UK business start‑ups and market entry strategies
• UK company formation and corporate structuring
• Establishing UK subsidiaries, branches and special‑purpose vehicles
• Governance frameworks and shareholder arrangements
• Ongoing UK corporate and commercial compliance.

UK inbound acquisition and investment

Our lawyers act as lead UK advisers for inbound investment and corporate development projects, supporting North American clients investing into or acquiring UK businesses. We advise on:

• UK inbound mergers, acquisitions and disposals
• UK‑focused due diligence for North American buyers
• Structuring UK investments, joint ventures and strategic partnerships
• Managing UK aspects of multi‑jurisdictional transactions
• Coordinating UK legal input alongside US and Canadian advisers.

UK regulatory advice

Our specialists provide UK‑specific regulatory advice to North American clients operating or investing in the UK. We support clients with:

• UK regulatory compliance and risk management
• Sector‑specific regulation, including healthcare, manufacturing and regulated services
• Data protection and UK GDPR requirements
• ESG‑related governance and reporting considerations
• Navigating regulatory differences between the UK, US and Canada.

Why choose Weightmans?

A connected, cross‑border advisory team

Our North America international desk brings together specialists from across Weightmans to deliver coordinated support on matters involving the UK, the US and Canada. International desks at Weightmans act as strategic hubs, focused on priority overseas markets and enabling joined‑up, cross‑border delivery.

We work closely with North American law firms, accountants, investment advisers and intermediaries to ensure a seamless client experience.

Cross‑border collaboration built in

Our international desk model is designed to support:

• Knowledge sharing across jurisdictions
• Relationship building with trusted advisers
• Coordinated inbound and outbound legal work
• Efficient management of multi‑jurisdictional matters

A strong UK base with global reach

With offices across the UK, seven international desks and a deep network of international partner firms, we are ideally placed to support North American clients with complex UK legal needs.