International Lawyers Worldwide.

An International lawyer acts as a bridge between conflicting legal systems. Unlike domestic lawyers who master one jurisdiction, they navigate the “supranational” rules that govern how nations and multinational entities interact. Their work ranges from drafting cross-border trade agreements and advising global corporations on complying with foreign sanctions to representing governments in territorial disputes before the International Court of Justice. They effectively translate your business or personal goals into a strategy that survives scrutiny in multiple countries simultaneously

The distinction lies in who the “players” are. Public International Law governs the relationship between sovereign states and international organizations, dealing with massive issues like treaties, the law of the sea, human rights, and warfare. Private International Law—often called “Conflict of Laws”—governs the legal relationships between private individuals or companies across borders. If two countries argue over a border, it is Public; if you sue a French company for breaching a contract signed in Japan, it is Private.

There is no “global sheriff” to automatically enforce a court order worldwide; a judgment in New York is effectively just a piece of paper in London until a local court recognizes it. A lawyer navigates this by filing a “domestication” action in the foreign court, proving that the original trial was fair and that the court had proper jurisdiction. They must ensure the judgment does not violate the foreign country’s public policy, after which the foreign court essentially stamps the order, allowing you to seize assets there as if the local judge had issued the ruling.

You generally cannot contract your way out of local employment rights. Even if your contract states it is governed by US law, if you physically work in Germany, German mandatory labor laws regarding vacation, termination, and social security usually override the contract to protect you. A lawyer helps you determine your “tax residency” to avoid double taxation and structures your employment—often through an “Employer of Record” (EOR)—to ensure your company pays the correct local payroll taxes so you don’t accidentally commit tax evasion in your new home.

Yes, primarily by navigating the strict framework of the Hague Convention. In custody battles where a parent illegally takes a child to another country, a lawyer files a petition under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction to secure the child’s immediate return to their “habitual residence.” For adoptions, they manage the “orphan visa” process and ensure the adoption meets the rigorous ethical standards required by both the child’s home country and your own to prevent future immigration nightmares.

Courts use a complex set of tests to solve this puzzle, often starting with the “choice of law” clause you wrote in your contract. If no choice was made, they apply tests like the “closest connection” (which country has the most to do with the deal?) or lex loci delicti (the law of the place where the harm occurred). A lawyer argues these technicalities to ensure the case is judged by the set of laws most favorable to your position, preventing the other side from “forum shopping” for a lenient court.

Generally, you cannot sue a foreign state due to the principle that equals cannot judge equals, but the “Commercial Activity Exception” changes this. If a foreign government acts like a private business—for example, buying helicopter parts or selling oil—they lose their immunity for those specific transactions. A lawyer structures your lawsuit to prove that the government’s breach of contract arose from these commercial acts rather than “sovereign” political acts, allowing you to pursue their commercial assets for damages.

Yes, because sanctions lists (like those from OFAC in the US) are strict liability regimes; you can be fined millions even if you didn’t know you were breaking the law. A lawyer screens your supply chain to ensure you aren’t accidentally buying materials from a blocked entity or a shell company owned by a sanctioned oligarch. They also apply for specific licenses that allow you to conduct humanitarian or medical trade in otherwise sanctioned regions, keeping your business on the right side of federal prison.