Translation For Lawyers

Professional translation services play an important role in arbitration as it is becoming increasingly common for parties to submit disputed international contracts to arbitration. The reason for this is that arbitration offers several distinct advantages over litigation in foreign courts - namely the ability to select the place, language, decision maker and procedure for the arbitration.

Continue reading "Document Translation Services and Successful International Arbitration" »

We've blogged about legal translations in the context of global M&A market, and about Chinese translations. Any attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) should advice clients planning any merger - even between companies from the same country, to find out whether or not the would-be partner is exporting to China or manufacturing products there.

Continue reading "Legal Translation and Mergers and Acquisitions in China " »

When a case involves parties and documentary evidence located in various countries, an issue of jurisdiction may arise. Typically, jurisdiction is determined by where the majority of the action took place. In a case involving the sale of a forged Picasso print, Plaintiff moved to dismiss the claim from New York jurisdiction on the basis that much of the documentary evidence was located in Switzerland and required a foreign language translation. Specifically, the print, several experts and the actual wrongdoing were all in New York. However, much of the documentary evidence and some witnesses were located in Switzerland.

Continue reading "Legal Translation, Jurisdiction and Foreign Language Evidence" »

Legal translation plays an important role in day-to-day operations of any going concern with a foreign ownership interest. When one has a successful business, the owner often wants to transfer ownership to a relative or relatives. However, without careful tax planning, the relatives inheriting the business quickly find themselves having to sell the business in order to pay estate taxes. This unfortunate situation can easily be avoided with careful planning - particularly if the business is foreign-based.

Continue reading "Legal Translation, Court Translation and Handing Down a Foreign-Based Family Business" »

We've blogged about professional translation services, foreign language-speaking employees and the employer's vicarious liability, and about legal translation and legal interpreting services to ensure compliance in employment recruiting. In the United States, employers have no legal recourse to securing employment references for prospective employees as the US legal system does not contain such a requirement.

Continue reading "Legal Translation Online and Getting Employer References in the US Legal System" »

Professional legal translations of prenuptial agreements by professional legal translators play an important role. A premarital agreement is an agreement between parties contemplating marriage that either alters or confirms the legal rights and obligations that arise in the case of divorce or, sometimes, death. Although prenuptial agreements are widely accepted by U.S. courts - so long as various legal requirements are met - issues arise when a prenuptial agreement was made in a foreign country, or a U.S. prenuptial agreement is brought forth in a foreign country.

Continue reading " Legal Translation, On-Site and Off-Site Legal Language Services and Prenuptial Agreements" »

We've blogged about court translations, professional translation online and employment contract translations provided in languages other than English to ensure worker safety and non-discrimination of foreign workers.  One of the most complex legal questions is whether or not U.S. employment discrimination law applies to international employers. Specifically, this question tends to focus on the international applicability of such laws as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended in 1991) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

As a general rule, these laws do not apply to foreign corporations unless a U.S. firm controls the foreign corporation. And even then their applicability is not guaranteed. In general, these laws are only applicable so long as certain conditions are met. The required conditions can generally be summarized into four "guidelines":

Continue reading "On-Site and Off-Site Professional Translation Services and Scope of U.S. Employment Discrimination Laws in International Setting " »

We've blogged about the importance of mortgage contract translations for the benefit of non-English-speaking homeowners.  Owning a home is one part of the American Dream. With secure jobs and attractive mortgage packages, many immigrants were able to pursue that dream.  In today's tight economic situation, an immigrant facing property foreclosure can either surrender the keys and walk away from the property, or devise a strategy to avoid foreclosure. Under general circumstances, these could be any of the following: repayment plan, forbearance, loan modification, selling one's home, deed in lieu of foreclosure, Chapter 7, or Chapter 11, or Chapter 13.

Continue reading "Foreign Language Translations as a Foreclosure Avoidance Strategy for Immigrants" »

We've blogged about language translation and language interpreting services for international adoption, and about professional immigration document translation and legal translation as an integral part of the international adoption process process.  When adopting and trying to bring into the U.S. a foreign born child, many issues may arise, all of which will often require a certified translation of foreign language documents, such as a birth certificate. The first step in adopting a child is to follow the adoption procedures of the foreign nation.   

Continue reading "Legal Translation, Legal Translators for Legal Documents and Adopting and Re-Adopting a Foreign-Born Child" »

We've blogged about legal translation of enforceable employee handbooks, about translating secondary evidence in immigration cases, and about professional language translation services and employment discrimination claims.  Legal translation services and legal language services are also important in the context of employing foreign workers in the U.S.  The U.S. H2-B visa program, which regulates foreign guest workers, does not require an employer to pay for worker transportation, visa, recruitment or subsistence costs related to their move to the U.S. 

Continue reading " Legal Translation, Online Translation Services, Legal Language Services, and U.S. Employment of Foreign Workers" »

We've blogged about certified language translation in the context of cross-border contract law, and translation services related to translations of international corporate governance documents. As businesses become more international in scope, Share Pledge Agreements are becoming more popular. However, when dealing with a share pledge agreement, one often faces numerous jurisdictions, each using a specific language and thus requiring a foreign language translation. Take the rapidly developing nation of Turkey, for example. Turkey's corporate code is similar to many European and North American corporate governance codes in that it provides shareholders of a joint stock corporation with certain rights, including voting rights in general assembly of shareholders meetings, rights to collect dividends, pre-emptive rights, and so on.

Continue reading "Language Translation, International Translation Experts, and the Share Pledge Agreement Translation" »

We've blogged about foreign language translations for foreign liquidators of the offshore hedge funds and the need for accurate legal translation services in international insolvency proceedings.  The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), which was passed in 2005, significantly changed the way foreign insolvency proceedings are handled under U.S. Bankruptcy laws. In fact, BAPCPA created a new chapter specifically focused on dealing with cross-border insolvency proceedings. 

Continue reading "Court Translations, Legal Online Translation and Legal Translation Services for Foreign Receivers, Foreign Representatives and Foreign Insolvency Proceedings" »

We've blogged about competent human translation services, online legal language translations and in-person courtroom translators, as well as about legal translation of legal documents and professional translation services in the context of product safety and Alien Tort Claims Act.  According to the Alien Tort Statute's Accomplice Liability clause, when a corporation operating abroad either conspires with, or aids and abets, an oppressive regime in violating human rights, victims can seek redress in U.S. courts under the Alien Tort Statute.

Continue reading "Court Interpreters and Legal Translators for Litigators and Attorneys, and Alien Tort Statute Accomplice Liability Cases " »

Having a foreign language courtroom interpreter and a foreign language translation of all procured statements and documentary evidence is essential for domestic and foreign litigation proceedings. According to 28 USC section 1782, which addresses the issue of assistance to foreign and international tribunals, a district court can order a litigant to give testimony or produce documents for use in a foreign proceeding.  Further, the section gives the district court the power to administer the necessary oath and to even take the testimony or statement.

Continue reading "Multilingual Document Translation and Expert Court Translator & Interpreter Services, Section 1782 and Foreign Proceedings " »

Earlier we're blogged about the dangers of outsourcing professional translation services overseas.  As different from offshoring professional services overseas, outsourcing, or off-shoring of manufacturing operations offers many advantages. However, one of the biggest problems with off-shoring, and the reason many operations fail, is a lack of communication from the start. Language and cultural barriers and the lack of professional translation services often complicate the communication process.  When communication does not happen, the design, parameters and relationship are not sufficiently set up, which will ultimately lead to the collapse of the deal.

Continue reading "Professional Corporate Translation for In-House Law Departments and Law Firms, and Communication with Offshore Vendors" »