International Legal Career Discussion with Alumnus Robert Grondine

Robert Grondine, alumnus and senior partner of White & Case LLP's Tokyo office, discussed his 26 years of experience in international legal practice with students

At BU Law, Grondine ('80) provided insight on how to prepare for and achieve a career in international legal practice, as well the differences between international commercial practice and international public law practice (i.e., United Nations, State Department), language and cultural sensitivity requirements for such a career, practice in developed versus developing economies and the competition between U.S. and English law for dominance in this area.

Grondine's practice focuses on corporate, commercial and financial transactions involving Japan, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, asset-based structured finance and tax-effective finance transactions. Grondine is recognized as one of the leading authorities on Japanese cross-border equipment leasing. His practice involves all aspects of assisting American and European companies in establishing and reorganizing their operations in Japan, from start-up representative offices and formation of branches and subsidiaries to acquisitions and closing of operations. Grondine has also assisted Japanese companies in acquiring plants and companies in various countries around the world and reorganizing corporate operating structures.

Over the past fifteen years, he has lectured in both English and Japanese on all aspects of corporate governance, acquiring companies, equipment leasing and general practical and legal issues for foreign companies doing business in Japan and in the United States, as well as broader legal, political and cultural aspects of the U.S.-Japan trading relationship. Since 2004, Grondine has been a professor at Keio Law School, teaching Corporate Finance, M&A/Global Alliances and international business transactions.

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Reported by Jane Coulter