Import/Export


In 2004, Ohio Governor Bob Taft awarded the Firm with the GOVERNOR’S EXCELLENCE IN EXPORTING AWARD ("E" Award).

Our award-winning client focus strategy consists of assisting our clients with both their legal decisions and their business decisions.  We strive to be brought into our clients’ businesses as internal advisors instead of being merely outside legal technicians.  As a result, we enjoy being in a position to assist many of our clients in their deliberations regarding whether to begin exporting, how to export most efficiently, and which current issues they need to consider when exporting.

Graydon Head & Ritchey has a very strong commitment to international trade.  We believe that we have been extremely successful for many years in helping Ohio companies achieve their own success internationally.  Only several of many examples include:

  • entering into foreign agency and distribution arrangements;
  • forming foreign subsidiaries and affiliates to sell direct;
  • arranging joint ventures with foreign companies;
  • avoiding trade restrictions and navigating tariffs;
  • coordinating economic development incentives for foreign companies in Ohio;
  • facilitating export and import issues;
  • guiding business immigration;
  • managing international litigation and dispute resolution;
  • negotiating overseas acquisitions and financing transactions;
  • overseeing local acquisitions, development, leasing, and expansion;
  • qualifying to do business in foreign countries; and
  • troubleshooting and legal compliance in foreign countries.

Our International Practice Group is cross-disciplinary, consisting of approximately 15 attorneys practicing in all areas of law.  Our Ohio clients range from individuals to large manufacturing operations and publicly-traded companies in all types of industry.  Recent significant international achievements include our negotiating global marketing agreements and international distribution arrangements and successfully conducting a large, complex international arbitration for an Ohio company several months ago before a tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Court of International Arbitration involving a dispute regarding the supplying of equipment in Korea.  We at Graydon Head & Ritchey are very proud of our efforts to promote international trade and to have helped many Ohio companies achieve success in the global marketplace.

A sampling of representative clients includes:

  • Rotex, Inc.
  • SENCORP 
  • Fifth Third Bancorp 
  • Robbins International, Inc.