Inbound U.S. Legal Services for Clients from the Middle East, North Africa & Turkey
Our firm offers a comprehensive general legal practice designed to meet the complex and evolving needs of high net worth individuals, family offices, and businesses based in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) with interests or operations in the United States. We are a trusted legal advisor for clients seeking strategic entry into the U.S. market, offering a full spectrum of services that seamlessly integrate personal, corporate, and transactional legal support.
Why Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP?
We provide the insight and knowledge to our cross-border clients that they need to complete successful projects and transactions that are both compliant with US law and optimized to their business success. What makes Carter Ledyard different is our approach to keeping and maintaining trusted relationships with clients: it is our personal touch and close attention to their needs which has enabled our Firm to prosper independently for over 170 years. Our tight ratio of partners and associates ensures seasoned lawyers are personally handling client matters and our excellent business relationships with a network of trusted lawyers and firms throughout the MENAT region secures our clients with seamless, high-quality services.
From our offices in the heart of New York’s financial district our team enjoys a long and distinguished track record of assisting foreign and domestic mid-sized companies on a range of corporate issues—a one-stop legal services provider for our clients. We serve international clients with U.S. matters and our U.S. clients with their global matters. We help organizations navigate through cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures and handle issues involving capital markets, debt, regulatory requirements, and in family groups and high net worth organizations handle complex assets. Additionally, we assist our clients in overcoming the difficulties – including the cross-cultural challenges that often arise – of entering and conducting business in the U.S. market.
With an exceptionally strong cross border practice, Carter Ledyard understands the business cultures and practices of the countries in which clients operate, and many speak the languages of those they counsel, facilitating clear communication and helping to ensure smooth transactions and commercial operations. We have Arabic-speaking lawyers within the practice and understand the delicate issues in business.
Carter Ledyard’s client base spans the spectrum of industry sectors because with more than 170 years of serving clients, our Firm knows how to deliver quality legal service to family groups and high net worth individuals and families, as well as private and public companies in industries that span tech, media, manufacturing, energy, finance, healthcare and pharma, consumer products and more. With that said, our sweet spot is in representing the mid-market corporates and their service providers.
We build strong relationships with organizations and practitioners around the world, and they trust and rely on us to help them meet their objectives and craft successful outcomes to their nation-spanning deals. Our experience with and understanding of the important global matters that affect our Latin American clients such as nearshoring, supply chain, corporate finance and securities are top of mind when we deliver our services.
And finally, our fee structure allows for mid-sized companies to retain us for a range of matters and with the assurance that our partners are guiding and attending to the details.
For more information about our Turkey Cross Border practice, please see here Turkey Cross-Border | Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP
Private Client & Family Office Services
We specialize in advising high net worth individuals and family offices on a range of U.S.-based matters, including asset acquisition and protection, cross-border estate planning, tax structuring, and investment in U.S. real estate and alternative assets. Our team assists with the formation and governance of family offices, ensuring compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements while preserving the privacy and long-term interests of our clients.
Real Estate & Asset Management
Clients rely on our firm to advise on residential and commercial real estate acquisitions, development projects, and portfolio management. We provide counsel on financing arrangements, structuring of investment vehicles, due diligence, and ongoing regulatory compliance, helping our clients navigate the legal and business landscape with clarity and confidence.
Corporate Structuring & Market Entry
For companies expanding into the U.S., we offer tailored legal guidance on entity formation, corporate governance, and cross-border structuring. We support clients through every stage of establishing or scaling operations in the U.S., from initial planning through regulatory compliance and operational setup.
Commercial Transactions & Joint Ventures
Our attorneys are skilled in drafting and negotiating a wide array of commercial agreements essential to doing business in the U.S., including joint venture agreements, distribution and licensing contracts, supplier and customer arrangements, and strategic partnerships. We work closely with foreign stakeholders to ensure their commercial interests are protected under U.S. law.
Corporate Finance, Debt & Capital Markets – Islamic Finance Focus
We offer strategic counsel on corporate finance, debt structuring, and capital markets transactions with a strong understanding of Sharia-compliant financial principles. Our team advises Islamic investors and institutions on sukuk issuances, Islamic syndicated loans, equity placements, and structured finance transactions that adhere to ethical and religious guidelines. We work closely with Sharia scholars and financial advisors to ensure transactions are both legally sound under U.S. law and compliant with Islamic finance standards.
Employment & Labor Law
We advise on the recruitment and management of U.S.-based employees, including executive compensation, employment contracts, workplace policies, compliance with federal and state labor laws, and immigration-related matters such as visas for key personnel and executives.
Intellectual Property, Licensing & Technology
From securing trademarks and patents to structuring licensing agreements and managing technology transfers, we help companies protect and commercialize their intellectual property in the U.S. We also provide ongoing guidance on IP enforcement, dispute resolution, and brand protection.
Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
As companies manage, store, and transfer increasing amounts of data, cybersecurity and data privacy issues and obligations transcend geographies to become huge assets or liabilities. We counsel clients on a wide variety of cybersecurity and data privacy issues, including compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations, cybersecurity protocols, cross-border data transfers, privacy policy development, and breach response strategies.
Tax & Compliance Advisory
Our firm provides strategic U.S. tax advice tailored to the unique needs of international clients, addressing issues such as income tax planning, FATCA/CRS compliance, FIRPTA implications for real estate investments, and corporate tax obligations. We collaborate with tax advisors in clients’ home jurisdictions to ensure efficient and compliant global tax strategies.
Cross-Border Litigation
Our litigators routinely represent foreign companies in disputes in federal and state courts located throughout the U.S. and in mediations and arbitrations in the U.S. and around the world before FINRA, AAA, ICDR, JAMS, ICC and other tribunals. We represent foreign entities and individuals in disputes involving cross border transactions, patent infringement and construction issues, commercial contracts, transportation matters, and in many other contexts.
Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that clients from the MENAT region benefit from integrated legal counsel aligned with their business goals and personal priorities. Whether establishing a presence in the U.S., investing in assets, or protecting intellectual property, our team delivers sophisticated, culturally attuned legal solutions backed by deep cross-border experience.