Canada

ArentFox Schiff helps Canadian businesses, Canadian governments and government entities, and US multinationals with Canadian operations navigate this integrated market. Our Canada Desk brings together legal, regulatory, transactional, trade, disputes, and government relations capabilities to help clients compete, invest, comply, and advocate effectively across the Canada-US corridor.

Overview

Whether clients are Canada-based companies expanding into the United States, US multinationals with Canadian operations, investors assessing cross-border opportunities, or business organizations seeking to remain competitive in the US marketplace, we provide integrated legal and strategic counsel across the issues that matter most.

We advise on US trade compliance, customs and import risk, export controls, sanctions, CFIUS, domestic preference requirements such as “Buy America,” government procurement, political advocacy, corporate structuring, transactions, employment, immigration, intellectual property, real estate, tax, disputes, and day-to-day operational matters. We also assist Canadian businesses considering US production expansion, relocation, or supply-chain restructuring in response to changing legal, commercial, or policy conditions.

Our approach is practical and cross-disciplinary. We help clients connect legal requirements with business strategy, including import compliance, competitive risk analysis, trade remedy exposure, tariffs, market access barriers, government relations, and regulatory developments that affect the ability to sell, invest, source, manufacture, or operate in the United States.

In addition to our legal capabilities, members of the firm provide policy insight drawn from senior government, diplomatic, congressional, and executive agency experience. This includes experience with Canadian trade and US market access issues, congressional trade and procurement policy, and legislative and regulatory matters affecting Canadian companies.

Additionally, though our Latin America Desk, we are capable of providing the bridge for Canadian companies invested in and carrying on business in Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. 
 

Our Focus

International Trade, Customs, and CFIUS

We have long-standing and deep expertise in advising on customs and import compliance, tariff classification, valuation, country-of-origin rules, importer-of-record issues, trade remedy exposure, export controls, economic sanctions, international trade litigation, and voluntary disclosures or government investigations. We also provide transaction-related support for inbound investment reviews before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), as well as advice regarding potential outbound investment restrictions and reporting obligations.

Government Relations and Policy Advocacy

We advise Canadian corporations, business organizations, government entities, and their counsel on US legislative advocacy, cross-border lobbying, government contracts, procurement policy, critical minerals investments and compliance with US laws governing political advocacy, lobbying, campaign finance, foreign agent registration, and anti-corruption risk.

Corporate, Transactions, and Operations

We support Canadian clients with the corporate and transactional issues that arise when entering, expanding, acquiring, financing, or operating in the United States. Our work includes acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, debt and equity financings, securities compliance, corporate governance, commercial contracts, vendor arrangements, product issues, real estate leasing, and other day-to-day operational matters.

Employment, Immigration, and Benefits

We advise on employment contracts, employee handbooks, discrimination claims, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, workforce mobility, and US work authorization for Canadian employees and executives. We also counsel multinational employers on compensation and benefits matters, including retirement plans, health plans, incentive programs, fiduciary governance, and compliance with US employee benefit laws.

Intellectual Property

We assist clients with intellectual property protection, real estate development and leasing, media and entertainment matters, product regulation, tax and transfer pricing issues, and industry-specific regulatory requirements. 

Real Estate 

Real estate and finance counsel have defined the firm since 1942 – and remain a cornerstone of our work today. In a market shaped by shifting capital conditions, evolving development priorities, and heightened operational demands, clients need legal counsel that understands both the transaction and the broader business context.

Our Real Estate team brings practical judgment to matters involving major asset classes, sophisticated ownership structures, financing arrangements, leasing strategies, development projects, and distressed situations. We help clients identify issues early, align legal strategy with commercial objectives, and move matters forward with coordinated support across related disciplines.

Media & Entertainment

Our firm’s Media & Entertainment practice is recognized as one of the premier media and entertainment practices in the country by Billboard and Chambers, saying ArentFox Schiff is one of the “go to” practices for television and movie studios. 

Our group comprises seasoned attorneys experienced in transactional, regulatory, counseling, and litigation matters across every segment of the media and entertainment industries. Representing celebrities, digital music services, movie studios, television producers and broadcasters, and a range of multimedia developers and publishers, we spend our days negotiating talent agreements, advising on distribution and marketing issues, conducting pre-publication defamation review, securing international broadcast licenses, litigating copyright, trademark, idea theft, defamation, and right of publicity claims, drafting software licenses, and counseling our clients on a wide range of legal and business issues.

Mining and Natural Resources

Our mining and natural resources lawyers advise Canadian and global companies on regulatory, tax stabilization, human rights, environmental, anti-corruption, financial crime, investigations, and dispute risks. We help clients adopt preventive measures, respond to government action, manage project risk, and pursue or defend claims before courts and international tribunals.

Litigation and Arbitration

With more than 200 litigators, ArentFox Schiff represents clients in federal and state courts, regulatory proceedings, investigations, and arbitral tribunals. 

Our International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution team brings experience in complex cross-border commercial disputes, investor-state matters, treaty-based claims, and disputes involving government regulation, market access, and international investment risk.

Government Enforcement & White Collar

Our Government Enforcement & White Collar team provides Canadian companies and individuals with strategic representation in investigations, regulatory matters, enforcement actions, and complex litigation throughout the United States. 

With former US Attorneys, federal prosecutors, and senior government officials on our team, we help clients navigate scrutiny from US regulators and enforcement agencies while minimizing business disruption. We regularly advise Canadian companies on SEC compliance and enforcement matters, particularly those listed on US exchanges, False Claims Act as well as customs and trade-related investigations. Working closely with our International Trade team, we also counsel clients on sanctions, export controls, and other cross-border regulatory risks, providing practical guidance to help clients operate confidently in the US market.

Industry Regulation

Each of the above listed practice groups bring sector experience across industries relevant to Canadian investors and operating companies, including energy, infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, technology, media, and consumer products. 

Focus Areas

• International Trade, Customs, and CFIUS
• Mining and Natural Resources
• Government Relations and Policy Advocacy
• Corporate, Transactions, and Operations
• Securities Law Compliance
• Employment, Immigration, and Benefits
• Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Media, and Industry Regulation
• Litigation and Arbitration

What We Do

• Advise on US customs and import compliance, export controls, economic sanctions, and international trade litigation, including voluntary disclosures and government investigations.
• Provide transaction-related support for inbound investment reviews before CFIUS and advise on potential outbound investment restrictions and reporting obligations.
• Counsel mining and natural resource companies on regulatory, tax stabilization, human rights, environmental, anti-corruption, and financial crime risks.
• Support Canadian companies with US government relations, legislative advocacy, procurement policy, and compliance with lobbying, election, foreign agent registration, and anti-corruption laws.
• Advise on US corporate governance, employment, immigration, real estate, commercial contracting, product regulation, and day-to-day operational matters.
• Assist with cross-border transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, securities compliance, and market-entry planning.
• Represent clients in US federal and state courts, regulatory proceedings, investigations, and international arbitration involving cross-border disputes.

Who We Help

• Canadian companies operating, investing, sourcing, selling, or manufacturing in the United States. 
• US multinationals with Canadian operations or Canada-facing supply chains.
• Canadian mining, natural resource, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, media, and consumer products companies with cross-border or global footprints.
• Canadian corporations, governments, and business organizations engaging with US policymakers, regulators, or procurement authorities.
• Cross-border employers managing US workforce, immigration, compensation, and benefits needs.

How We Help

Legal support often becomes critical when companies face regulatory change, heightened enforcement activity, cross-border transactions, market expansion or restructuring, government investigations, procurement restrictions, import compliance concerns, supply-chain changes, or disputes involving trade, investment, or contractual risk. We work alongside client teams at these inflection points to help them assess exposure, understand available options, and navigate complex legal and policy environments.

Our Experience

ArentFox Schiff has long advised clients on matters arising from the US-Canada trade and investment relationship, including work involving governments, multinational corporations, and Canadian business organizations. Members of the firm contributing policy insight include former senior officials from the Canadian Embassy, former members of Congress who chaired key trade committees, and former government officials with experience addressing legislative and regulatory priorities affecting Canadian companies.

Canada Desk

The Canada Desk is led by Riyaz Dattu and Nancy Noonan.

Riyaz is qualified to practice law both in Canada and the United States. As a Canadian-licensed practitioner with more than 40 years of experience advising governments and businesses on trade and investment matters he brings knowledge and experience to guide Canadian businesses operating in the United States as well as US businesses doing business in Canada. Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, he led international trade and investment practices at two of Canada’s largest law firms and is recognized by leading legal directories for his longstanding work in this area.

Nancy Noonan has advised a number of Canadian clients in antidumping, countervailing duty, Section 201, Section 232 and Section 301 proceedings before the US Department of Commerce, the US International Trade Commission, US Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of the US Trade Representative. She has also counseled Canadian clients on trade dispute and compliance issues arising under trade agreements. She advises companies and individuals regarding the optimal strategies for the transfer of foreign nationals for temporary and permanent employment in the United States, as well as for nonimmigrant employment authorization, including under trade agreements.