Lewis Sassoon traveled to Panama City, Panama, this past March to promote trade between the Boston/New England region and Latin America. Mr. Sassoon, the co-founder of Sassoon & Cymrot, was in Panama as the Boston representative at the Americas Regional Meeting sponsored by Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW). The LAW Conference was hosted by the Panama City-based law firm of Galindo, Arias & Lopez.
Mr. Sassoon met with Central and South American business leaders at the Panama conference, and with corporate lawyers whose business clients seek to do business in the U.S. The U.S. is Panama’s largest trading partner, and Panamanian and U.S. corporations are anxious to boost trade between their companies, now that the U.S.–Panama Free Trade Agreement has been adopted by both the U.S. and Panama. The U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement removes hundreds of tariffs and will increase trade between the two countries.
Economic ties between New England and Latin America will be further strengthened when Copa Airlines begins direct flights between Panama City and Boston. These direct flights to Panama will establish Boston as a new American gateway to Latin America. Mr. Sassoon is often called upon to assist foreign companies that seek to do business in the U.S. He advises foreign business clients to take the following steps to establish their U.S. operations: (1) establish a satellite office to work with the foreign holding company; (2) evaluate tax issues and develop strategies for managing tax liability in multiple jurisdictions; (3) prepare employment contracts in conformance with U.S. employment laws, and review and modify the company’s business contracts to comply with U.S. laws and regulations; and (4) modify and optimize import/export operations for the U.S. customs process.
Mr. Sassoon has arranged introductions for the senior management of Copa Airlines to Massachusetts business and government leaders, and he is prepared to provide similar assistance to New England businesses who seek to expand their presence in Latin America.
Lewis Sassoon plays an ongoing role in promoting economic development between foreign countries and the U.S. In 2011, Sassoon organized a business conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, for 74 international lawyers from LAW firms based in Europe and Asia. Lewis Sassoon is the co-practice leader of Sassoon & Cymrot’s International Business Practice and co-practice leader of the firm’s Insolvency/Reorganization Practice.
