United States Institute of Leadership and Diplomacy
A Division of Orpe Human Rights Advocates
Shining Light in the Midst of Darkness
International Business Law for Senior Executives
Virtually every company, regardless of its size or industry, owns a form of intellectual property known as trade secrets. Although protected under U.S. federal and state laws, trade secrets do not benefit from similar protections in many foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, a U.S. company that seeks to do business abroad or contract with foreign partners may be exposing its trade secrets to new vulnerabilities as a result.
In this course, you will analyze how U.S. laws protect trade secrets then examine common ways in which foreign laws on trade secrets differ from the United States. You will also identify best practices and procedures for protecting trade secrets outside of the United States, including through contractual mechanisms. By the end of this course, you will gain insights into the cultural implications of various legal approaches and fortify your knowledge to protect intellectual assets.
Key Course Takeaways
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Anticipate and mitigate the unique risks to your business that can arise when operating in a foreign country
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Conduct international business competitively within the limitations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
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Develop strategies to minimize the effects of tariffs on imports and exports while remaining compliant with U.S. tariff laws
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Identify how trade secrets become vulnerable when a company is doing business in a foreign jurisdiction
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Develop tools for protecting proprietary information to the greatest extent while also allowing your business to pursue international opportunities
Managing Legal Risks in Foreign Direct Investment
The web of global economic connections is growing deeper, broader, and more intricate. Yet much of the public discussion surrounding globalization is stuck on the narrow topic of trade surpluses and deficits. This lens fails to take into account the new and more complex reality of a digitally connected global economy. While the global goods trade and financial flows have flattened since the Great Recession, cross-border flows of data are surging. They now tie the world economy together just as surely as flows of traditional manufactured goods. Thus, doing business at global level seems to become now a must for a business to survive in the age of artificial intelligence and platform models that now dictating business strategies that lead to a competitive advantage. In this certificate program, you will discover how to identify and address some of the key legal issues that can arise during international transactions.
Whether you have multinational operations, joint ventures or investments with foreign partners, or are simply purchasing and selling goods or services across borders, it is critical to gain an understanding of the intricate legal landscape of cross-border transactions. You will begin with an overview of the legal issues relevant to both public law and private law, then you will explore practical solutions for dealing with these issues and engage in thoughtful discussions with peers on the broader policy implications. By the program's conclusion, you will have developed practical insights and the ability to identify specific legal risks that commonly arise in global business transactions. You will also be equipped to propose effective solutions to these issues to operate effectively within national and international legal structures.
For the best experience in this program, it is recommended to take these courses in the order that they appear.
This certificate includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore today’s most pressing topics. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending a Symposium is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.
Course Details
Whether you currently manage or are planning to develop a foreign direct investment (FDI), understanding risks is critical when doing business in a foreign jurisdiction. Cross-border investments can be jeopardized by a change in the political culture or the legal landscape of the country in which your investment is located. What happens, for example, if the host country enacts new laws or regulations that raise your operating costs? Or what happens in the event of expropriation? With so many variables to account for, you'll need practical insights and comprehensive tools to help mitigate uncertainty.
In this course, you will examine several contractual clauses and other resources that will help you anticipate and respond to problems that can negatively impact the return on your FDI. You will also explore a real-world example of a cross-border deal gone wrong, learning from challenges to develop effective strategies and protections. By practicing how to identify different risks, you will discover how to recommend contractual mechanisms to offset their effects.
If your business has any international activities, it is important to equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate the global business landscape. Familiarizing yourself with the complexities of the federal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) can help you to avoid running afoul of its requirements and operate confidentially and ethically. Many businesses are subject to the FCPA, yet the statute can be difficult to understand due to its complexity and sheer breadth.
In this course, you will examine the FCPA's origins, scope, and applicability under different circumstances. You will analyze various scenarios in which the FCPA's requirements are implicated, and you will define and evaluate best practices for ensuring compliance with the FCPA. Finally, you will have the opportunity to step back and consider the broader implications of the FCPA for U.S. businesses seeking to compete internationally.
Who Should Enroll
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Business leaders doing international business
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Public and nonprofit professionals
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Business developers
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Finance and accounting professionals
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Human resource or talent management professionals
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Compliance or risk-management professionals
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Anyone looking to work effectively with legal professionals
Whether your business exports globally or imports into the United States, understanding the economic impact of trade tariffs is crucial. Trade tariffs are a tax on products that enter a country's national borders, and they are imposed to varying degrees by most countries around the world. And just as with any other tax on business activities, a business can change the scope and magnitude of any tariffs it is required to pay by altering its sales or procurement practices.
This course will provide the tools needed to assess the economic impact of U.S. tariff laws on any prospective import by a U.S. business. You will discover how to assess and compare tariffs, empowering you to minimize financial impact while achieving other business objectives. You will also examine the legal limits of tariff engineering — a common method for tariff reduction — and gain valuable insights into how U.S. tariff laws align with historical global practices.
Virtually every company, regardless of its size or industry, owns a form of intellectual property known as trade secrets. Although protected under U.S. federal and state laws, trade secrets do not benefit from similar protections in many foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, a U.S. company that seeks to do business abroad or contract with foreign partners may be exposing its trade secrets to new vulnerabilities as a result.
In this course, you will analyze how U.S. laws protect trade secrets then examine common ways in which foreign laws on trade secrets differ from the United States. You will also identify best practices and procedures for protecting trade secrets outside of the United States, including through contractual mechanisms. By the end of this course, you will gain insights into the cultural implications of various legal approaches and fortify your knowledge to protect intellectual assets.