Martin advises a wide range of US and foreign clients on international legal matters. He has advised numerous companies on the Fortune Global 500 list, foreign governments, universities, private equity funds, international charities, and technology companies and manufacturers of all sizes. He also advises US and foreign high-net-worth individuals and family-owned companies with business operations, assets, and heirs moving across borders.
Martin practiced international law for 17 years with multinational AmLaw 100 firms in Washington, DC before moving his international practice to Texas in 2006.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
International Sales & Investments: Joint ventures, international distribution agreements, infrastructure investments, establishment and transfer of foreign subsidiaries and offshore vehicles, cross-border franchises, multinational licensing, application of bilateral and multilateral investment treaties, risk-mitigation techniques, contracts with governments and state-owned companies.
Regulation of Trade & Cross-Border Transactions: Anti-Bribery/FCPA counseling, supply-chain integrity, and formulation and implementation of international compliance programs and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
International Private Client: In-bound investments for foreign family offices and family-owned businesses, structuring of family-owned companies and holdings across multiple jurisdictions
Public International Law and International Disputes: Investment disputes, sovereign immunity, state-to-state obligations and enforcement, treaty interpretation, cross-border litigation strategy
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
– Multinational manufacturer of consumer technology products (terms for international licenses)
– Fortune 100 defense contractor (counseling regarding anti-bribery compliance)
– International chain of coffee shops (counseling regarding contracts/vendor code of conduct)
– International charities (contracting with local service contractors)
– Oilfield equipment manufacturers (international distribution, licenses, compliance)
– Foreign governments (investment contracts, treaty negotiation, disputes, energy projects)
– University administrations (structuring for international student programs)
– Tech companies (outsourcing, worldwide licensing, establishment/closure of foreign subs)
– International grocery chain (cross-border contracting)
– Growth/start-up (inbound investment from foreign partners; worldwide distribution/licenses)
– Service companies/defense subcontractors (international contracting and disputes)
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, AFFILIATIONS, HONORS
International Law Section, State Bar of Texas, Member of the governing council, past Secretary and Treasurer
International Law Section, Austin Bar Association, Chairman (2006-2013; 2016-present)
Chairman, Advisory Committee on Specialization in International Law in Texas
Director, Austin Bar Association (2006-2013; 2116-present)
Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation
Education: University of Notre Dame, BA 2004; University of Texas School of Law, Honors JD 2009
Law School: Editor-in-Chief, Texas Int’l Law Journal; Recipient Dean’s Achievement Award, TQ Best Brief Award, Legal Research Board
Admitted, State Bar of Texas and Bar of the District of Columbia, 1989
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Guest lecturer, University of Texas, Law and Business Schools, 2011-2016
Martin is frequently invited to write on international law topics or to speak at continuing legal education classes for practicing lawyers on matters of international law, having given more than three dozen such presentations over the course of his career. Representative examples include:
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Austin Bar Association International Law Section, US Regulation of Cross-Border Trade, November 2017
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, University or Texas Law School Annual Conference on Partnerships and LLCs, Foreign Investment into US Partnerships and LLCs, June 2017
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Annual Institute on International Law of the State Bar of Texas, The Practice of International Law in Texas, and Future Trends, February 2017
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Considerations of Legal Ethics When Advising Clients on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Austin Bar Association, April 2016
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Drafting Enforceable International Contracts, State Bar of Texas, co-sponsored by the International Law Sections of the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas, March 2013
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Legal Ethics, Training, and Specialization in International Law, Dallas Bar Association, April 2012
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Standards of Practice in Advising Clients on International Law, Fort Worth Bar Association, May 2011
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Ethical Pitfalls in International Practice, Annual Institute on International Law of the State Bar of Texas, February 2011
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Recent Developments and Compliance Tips, Fort Worth Bar Association, November 2010
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Moderator: The New UK Bribery Act and Other Developments in UK and EU Law Affecting Trans-Atlantic Investments, Austin Bar Association, October 2010
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Emerging Issues in International Law; Dealing with International Kidnapping Risk, State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, June 2010
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Drafting Key Provisions of International Commercial Contracts, Fort Worth Bar Association, May 2010
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Comparing Contract Law in Common Law and Civil Law Jurisdictions, Austin Bar Association, April 2010
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods: The International Lawyer’s Ethical Obligation to Understand It’s Importance and Application, Austin Bar Association, March 2010
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Ethical Issues and Pitfalls for International Law Practitioners, The Center for American and International Law, Plano, Texas, June 2009.
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Moderator, Emerging Issues in Investments Abroad, Foreign Joint Ventures, and M&A, Annual Institute on International Law of the State Bar of Texas, March 2009
- Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, Moderator, Developments in China’s Legal Regime for Trade and Investment, Austin Bar Association, March 2009
- Author, Using Bilateral Investment Treaties to Mitigate Investment Risk in Africa, The Africa Journal, October 2006
- Article Author and Accredited Continuing Education Presentation, The Lawyer’s Role in Mitigating CSR Risk, 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law, (published in the 2005 Annual Proceedings of the Society)
- Television interview, Recent Developments in U.S. Export Control Policy and Regulation, South Korean state television, April 2005
- Author, 2000 Investment Guide to Azerbaijan: The Refining SectorAuthor, 1999 Investment Guide to Azerbaijan: The Evolving Natural Gas Sector
