Fredricks, Schwarzl & von der Horst is a premier full-service business law firm dedicated to providing comprehensive market entry services to non-U.S. companies seeking to establish or expand their operations in the United States. With a deep understanding of the legal, regulatory, and cultural complexities involved, we deliver a complete package of tailored solutions to ensure your goods and services thrive in the U.S. market. Our firm is proud to serve as the official trust law firm of the Austrian Consulate in Los Angeles.
Our legal services cover every aspect of U.S. market entry. We advise on structuring the most advantageous business entity—such as a corporation, limited liability company, or partnership—and manage the formation process with meticulous attention to detail. We negotiate and draft contracts for executives and key employees, ensuring compliance with U.S. employment laws while aligning with your strategic goals. To protect your intellectual property, we handle copyright and trademark registrations with federal and state authorities. Our team also excels in managing commercial leases or real estate acquisitions, facilitating licensing and technology transfers, and addressing related transactional needs. When disputes arise, we provide support in commercial debt collection and basic litigation to safeguard your interests.
A cornerstone of our practice is our robust immigration expertise, critical for companies relocating personnel to the U.S. We secure a wide range of business visas, including E-1 (Treaty Trader), E-2 (Treaty Investor), L-1 (Intracompany Transferee), and O-1 (Extraordinary Ability) visas, tailoring our approach to the specific needs of your executives, managers, and specialized employees. We also assist with dependent visas (e.g., L-2, E-2 spouse), employment authorization documents, and permanent residency options where applicable, ensuring a smooth transition for your workforce. Our immigration services extend to compliance with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requirements, advising on visa renewals, and navigating changes in immigration policy to keep your operations uninterrupted.
As general counsel, we act as a steadfast partner, offering ongoing legal guidance to help you navigate the U.S. business landscape. For areas beyond our direct practice—such as complex litigation or patent prosecution—we draw upon our trusted network of legal specialists with whom we have collaborated successfully for many years, ensuring that our clients receive exceptional representation across all disciplines.
Specialized Services
We are committed to ensuring a seamless transition into the U.S. market, offering a comparative perspective on the differences between U.S. legal systems (including California-specific regulations) and those of European and other non-U.S. jurisdictions. This insight is invaluable for assessing litigation exposure, reevaluating product liability risks, revising standard terms and conditions, structuring your U.S. entity for optimal tax outcomes, collecting debts within the U.S. framework, and designing competitive compensation plans for personnel. Our designation as the official trust law firm of the Austrian Consulate in Los Angeles underscores our proficiency in cross-border legal matters, particularly for Austrian and European clients, providing unparalleled support in trust and estate planning alongside market entry needs.
For industry-specific guidance, such as in film and television, we offer specialized expertise on U.S. copyright laws versus international standards (including droit moral), as well as compliance with Directors Guild, Screen Actors Guild, and Writers Guild requirements. We advise on co-production agreements between U.S. and European entities, navigating tax incentives and national or regional film subsidies to maximize your project’s potential.