Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Make Your International Contracts Work Across Borders
A deal that crosses a border adds layers that domestic contracts never face — which law governs, which court decides, how you get paid, and how you enforce a judgment abroad. Get any of it wrong and a profitable deal becomes an unenforceable one. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles international contracts across Europe.
- Governing law & jurisdiction
- Cross-border payment & risk
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
Businesses selling, buying or partnering across national borders
An international contract is an agreement between parties in different countries, and it carries questions a purely domestic deal does not. Which country’s law governs the agreement, and which courts or arbitral tribunal will decide any dispute? How are currency, payment and delivery risk allocated across borders, and how will a judgment or award be enforced where the other party’s assets are? The answers depend on rules — including EU instruments and international conventions — that differ from country to country, and getting them wrong can leave a contract unenforceable or a dispute fought in an unfamiliar forum. Whether you are exporting goods, engaging a foreign supplier, licensing software abroad or entering a cross-border distribution arrangement, we match you with a lawyer who drafts and negotiates international contracts and understands how these questions resolve in your specific trading relationship.
Why cross-border deals go wrong
The same clause that protects you at home
can be meaningless across a border.
Governing law, jurisdiction and enforcement are decided at signing — and they are very hard to fix after a dispute has already begun.
Silence on governing law
When a contract doesn’t specify which law governs, or specifies it poorly, the parties can face expensive preliminary disputes about which rules apply and which court has authority — costs that mount before the real issues are ever reached.
Enforcement across borders
Winning a judgment in your own country doesn’t mean it can be enforced where the other party’s assets are. Without an enforceable forum, arbitration clause or recognition strategy, a favourable ruling can turn out to be worth little in practice.
Currency, payment and delivery risk
Cross-border deals add exchange-rate exposure, foreign payment terms and international delivery obligations with unclear risk allocation. When these aren’t addressed, an apparently profitable contract can lose money through factors never negotiated.
What you get
Contracts built to hold up across the borders they cross
We only match you with lawyers experienced in cross-border drafting, governing law and international enforcement.
Governing law and jurisdiction chosen
Your lawyer helps you select the governing law and dispute forum — court or arbitration — that best protects your position, based on where the parties and their assets are and what will actually be enforceable.
Enforceable dispute resolution
Arbitration clauses, choice-of-court agreements and recognition considerations designed so that a decision in your favour can be enforced where the other party’s assets are, rather than remaining a paper victory.
Cross-border risk allocation
Currency, payment, delivery and Incoterms-style obligations allocated clearly, so exchange-rate, transport and default risk sit with the party best placed to manage them and are priced into the deal.
Compliance across jurisdictions
Advice on the rules that apply to your specific cross-border relationship — from import and export controls to data transfer and consumer rules — so the contract is valid and workable in every relevant country.
Coverage
International contract lawyers across Europe
Cross-border contracts depend on the law of each country involved and on EU and international rules, so the right lawyer is one who practises in the relevant jurisdictions. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
International contracts — common questions
What is governing law, and why does it matter?
Governing law is the country’s law that will be used to interpret and enforce the contract. It matters because it determines how clauses are read, what remedies are available and which mandatory rules apply. Choosing it deliberately — rather than leaving it silent — avoids costly preliminary disputes.
Should I choose court or arbitration for disputes?
It depends on the deal. Court judgments can be harder to enforce across borders, while arbitration is often preferred internationally because awards are widely recognisable under international conventions. The right choice depends on the countries involved and the value at stake, which a lawyer can assess.
How are cross-border contracts enforced?
Enforcement typically requires the judgment or arbitral award to be recognised in the country where the other party’s assets are located. International conventions and EU rules facilitate this, but the process varies by country, which is why the forum and governing law should be chosen with enforcement in mind.
How should currency and payment risk be handled?
The contract can specify the currency, payment terms, timing and who bears exchange-rate risk, and can include safeguards such as advance payment, letters of credit or guarantees. Allocating these risks clearly at the outset prevents them from silently eroding the deal’s value.
Do I need to comply with the other country’s laws?
Yes, in most cases certain mandatory rules of the other country — such as import and export controls, consumer protection, and data transfer rules — will apply regardless of the chosen governing law. A lawyer can identify which rules affect your specific contract and how to comply.
What if the other party is in a country with weak enforcement?
This is precisely the situation where structuring matters most: choosing arbitration, appropriate payment safeguards, security or guarantees, and a governing law that supports your position. A lawyer experienced in cross-border risk can advise which protections are realistic and worth pursuing.
Free case review
Structure the deal so it works where the assets are
Tell us about your cross-border deal and we’ll connect you with an international contracts lawyer in the relevant countries — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.