Phillips Lytle Hosts International State of the Region

Global Business Opportunities, Challenges

International business opportunities are a significant growth strategy for many companies. But with those opportunities come plenty of compliance challenges.

That was one area of focus during a State of the Region event May 2 sponsored by Phillips Lytle LLP at the law firm’s Buffalo office. Special counsel Jon Yormick moderated the panel, which included Thomas Battley, executive director of New York Photonics in Rochester; Patrick Emmerling, director of the Office of Technology Transfer & Commercial Development at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Rosanna Masucci, director of the Buffalo Export Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Also on the panel: James Kevin Wholey, a partner at Phillips Lytle who is based in the Washington, D.C. office; and Albert Zenner, vice president of legal at Derrick Corp. in Cheektowaga.

Derrick manufactures vibrating machines for the oil and gas, mining and civil construction industries. Zenner said the company has overseas customers.

A Russian customer was recently on the “unverified list” of foreign entities about which the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has concerns, he said.

“We had to institute a policy on how to do business with that company and still stay within the rules and regulations of the Department of Commerce,” he said.

Helping businesses navigate such matters is part of Masucci’s job. Her office also provides trade counseling and market intelligence and helps companies identify and comply with legal issues.

“We can be a clearinghouse for you for finding the information you need (for international business),” Masucci said.

Emmerling helps Roswell Park’s cancer researchers tackle export control issues. That includes making sure researchers comply with regulations.

“We look at regulations and if there could be an issue, we put together a compliance plan,” he said.