Focus Practice
US Market Entry for European Companies
We structure, negotiate and protect your expansion into the United States. One team across Europe and our US network. Partner-led, from day one.
Structure First
Structure decides success. Not speed.
Most failed US market entries fail early, in the setup phase. The wrong entity type, an unclear governance structure, or a distribution agreement that cannot be enforced later. Fixing these mistakes costs more than avoiding them.
That is why we start every US market entry with structure: the right entity in the right state, a governance package that satisfies both US law and your European group requirements, and contracts that hold up in a US courtroom.
Entity & governance
Subsidiary or branch, Delaware or elsewhere, board structure and internal controls. We set up the legal foundation your US business runs on.
Contracts & distribution
Agency and distributor agreements, pricing structures, due diligence on your US partners before you sign.
Compliance & risk
CFIUS, export controls (ITAR/EAR), OFAC sanctions, FCPA. We keep your US entry clear of the regulatory traps European companies most often miss.
Services
What we handle for your US expansion
- US subsidiary formation and governance
- Choice of entity and state, registered agent setup
- CFIUS review for foreign investors
- Export controls and sanctions compliance (ITAR, EAR, OFAC)
- Anti-bribery compliance (FCPA)
- Distributor and agency agreements
- M&A and joint ventures in the US
- IP and trade secret protection under the DTSA
- Executive visas (L-1A, E-1, E-2, EB-1C)
- US litigation and product liability risk
Process
From first call to operating entity
Free initial consultation
We assess your plans, flag the critical legal issues, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help. No invoice before we expressly agree on paid work.
Structure memo
You receive a written recommendation: entity type, state, governance, tax framework and a realistic timeline.
Setup & contracts
We form the entity, draft the governance package and negotiate your US contracts. You work with partners, not associates.
Ongoing counsel
Compliance calendar, contract reviews and a direct line to your lead partner as your US business grows.
Why a boutique
Why European companies choose a boutique for US market entry
You do not need a law firm with a thousand lawyers to enter the US market. You need a small team that has done it before and stays personally responsible.
At LANA AP.MA, business clients are advised by the firm's owners. Our lean structure means complete discretion, faster decisions and rates that leave room in your expansion budget. Through our network of US, European and Asian specialists, we scale the team to your case, not the other way around.
Lead Partner
Your lead partner for US matters
Dr. Stephan Ebner is admitted in the US and Germany and trained in the USA, England and Germany. He advises listed companies and mid-sized enterprises almost exclusively on international legal and tax matters, with the US-German corridor as his core practice.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to set up a US subsidiary?
The formation itself takes days. A US entity that is actually ready to operate, with governance, bank account, registered agent, tax registrations and compliant contracts, typically takes 6 to 12 weeks. We give you a written timeline in the structure memo.
Should we set up a subsidiary or a branch in the US?
For most European companies, a subsidiary (usually a Delaware or local-state corporation or LLC) is the better choice: it separates liability from the parent and simplifies tax treatment. A branch can make sense in narrow cases. We assess this in the free initial consultation.
Do we need a CFIUS filing?
Only certain transactions involving foreign investors trigger CFIUS, mandatory filings are the exception. If your investment touches critical technologies, infrastructure or sensitive data, this must be checked before signing, not after.
Do US export controls apply to a European company?
Often, yes. If your products contain US-origin components or technology, EAR or ITAR can apply to your business even outside the US. We screen this early because violations carry severe penalties.
What does it cost to hire LANA AP.MA?
It depends on the case. Two promises: the initial consultation is free, and you will never receive an invoice before we have expressly told you that our work is no longer complimentary.
Do we have to communicate in English?
No. Speak the language you are confident in, including German and Mandarin. We manage your US matters end to end and take the project lead if you want us to.
Contact
Discuss your US expansion
Tell us where you stand. We respond within one business day.
The initial consultation is free. You will never receive an invoice before we have expressly told you that our work is no longer complimentary.