Linares Associates PLLC

Introduction: Linares Associates PLLC is an international law firm and its practice is directed largely to companies wishing to operate commercially on the Italy-US axis. We offer the Italian and the American entrepreneur a wide range of services that allow companies, be they pre-existing or in formation, to reach their commercial objectives in full. Linares Associates provides specific legal assistance also to those companies interested in establishing their business activities in one of the European Union Member States and in those emerging new markets, such as China, India, and South America, where we cooperate with a number of selected domestic firms. At Linares Associates, we have accumulated a wide experience in assisting both Italian and foreign companies. This has given us a deep knowledge and understanding of the multi-faceted issues that each company must face in managing its commercial activities abroad. In the key cities of the North and South America, Europe, China and India, Linares Associates has an established network of correspondents who are reliable and have a long-standing experience in their field of professional specialization. With this network, we can operate directly on each territory and guarantee our clients immediate and high-quality assistance. At the same time we manage everything centrally from our firm, thus protecting our clients from the uncertainties of searching for professional help on-site, bypassing the common communication problems and, above all, avoiding excessive and unexpected cost. Linares Associates is active in all the different aspects of International Business Law, including: i) Corporate Law and Immigration Procedures We follow our clients through all phases of their business activities abroad and in Italy: from choosing the company structure that best suits their needs and the State that can give them the best fiscal advantage, to the actual formation and operation of the company, including accounting, tax management (drafting of annual balance sheets, filing tax returns, payroll operations and related tax reports) and preparing and filing the papers required to obtain resident permits and work visas. ii) Contracts Another area that we manage with great care is the whole arena of business contracts, including agency and distributorship agreements, sales contracts, franchising and joint-venture agreements, trademark license agreements, confidentiality agreements, memorandum of understanding, and residential and commercial lease agreements. We know how crucial and difficult the negotiation of a contract can be for a company wishing to do business with a foreign partner. Our ability to interact with foreign companies and individuals, speaking their same language and, more importantly, having their same legal background, allows us to draft a document that can guarantee the achievement of the commercial objectives set out by the client at the negotiation stage. iii) Real Estate We assist our clients in the delicate operation of purchasing, selling or leasing residential and/or commercial real estate properties in the United States and in Italy, providing general corporate and estate planning advice to individuals and companies. iv) Product Liability Product liability and the complex laws regulating its application, is another area that Linares Associates has examined and investigated over the years. In particular, we have elaborated several different contract clauses limiting the liability of manufacturers exporting products abroad, and that can be easily included in contracts and sales forms. We have also identified a series of indications and warnings that can be precious to the foreign entrepreneur wishing to distribute its products in the USA. v) Patent and Trademark Registration Patent and Trademark are of strategic importance for a company wishing to invest on a competitive foreign market. It is essential to set up adequate protection to prevent acts of counterfeiting or unfair competition. This is why our firm offers focused and specialized consulting in the phase of patent and trademark registration in the US, Canada, Europe, China, India and South America. We closely examine the specific issues related to the patent and trademark for which protection is being sought, we perform comprehensive search in the territory and in product classes involved, we issue an opinion on the practicability of patent and trademark protection, and we file registration with the competent State or Federal authorities. vi) Debt Collection Our firm can also assist its clients in the delicate operation of debt collection in the United States, Italy, European Union, China, India, and South America: from drafting basic Demand Letters, to the more complex preparation of lawsuits, filing papers with the courts having jurisdiction on the particular case, notifications in the foreign countries and management of any contingent legal actions. Linares Associates also offers specialized consulting on the effect and recognition in Italy and in the United States of foreign judgements in light of the most recent international private law reforms.