Given the inherent complexity of drafting and executing comprehensive legal reviews of cross-border trade agreements, BRACE Law Firm manages these matters through a dedicated, cross-functional practice group utilizing attorneys from multiple legal specializations.

As Roman Shabrov, Managing Partner at BRACE Law Firm, noted: "In handling extensive legal reviews and drafting cross-border commercial contracts, we recognize that this work stream is highly complex. It demands the active engagement of attorneys specializing in diverse practice areas, including international commercial law, customs and tax law, dispute resolution, and international commercial arbitration—specifically regarding the designation of dispute resolution fora in cross-border agreements—among other fields. The preparatory phase, which involves thorough counterparty due diligence and strategic negotiations, is equally critical. Consequently, we have established a multidisciplinary team to enhance the efficiency of this legal support, integrating attorneys across various specializations to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the multi-faceted compliance risks and legal exposure arising during the execution and performance of international contracts."

"A comprehensive approach is particularly vital," Shabrov emphasizes, "when dealing with several Asian jurisdictions, including China, Vietnam, and South Korea, where legal frameworks diverge substantially from the Russian system, and accessing reliable corporate intelligence remains challenging."

Conducting robust background checks and counterparty due diligence requires particular attention when entering into cross-border transactions, as verifying the integrity of a foreign commercial partner frequently presents unique challenges. These difficulties arise because foreign laws govern the corporate structure and operational scope of such entities, reflecting regulatory frameworks distinct from domestic law. Furthermore, obtaining verifiable corporate records and financial data can often prove highly problematic.

International trade participants conduct commercial operations on the basis of executed cross-border agreements, which represent legally binding transactions between two or more business entities residing in different sovereign jurisdictions. Generally, parties execute these contracts in writing to define the scope of their commercial collaboration, which remains subject to the concurrent application of multiple legal systems.

As a matter of international legal practice, cross-border (international) commercial contracts exhibit several distinct characteristics: the contracting parties maintain their principal places of business in different states; the transaction is subject to international conventions and/or national laws; the parties must explicitly designate the governing law; the transactions are subject to specialized state and regulatory oversight; and unique customs regulations govern the import and export of goods.

Clients can review a more detailed breakdown of our legal services regarding the drafting and legal analysis of international commercial contracts here, and explore our comprehensive international trade legal support here.

Currently, one of our most highly requested legal services involves drafting and structuring cross-border contracts between Russian and Chinese enterprises.