Frequently asked questions.

How does having a U.S.-licensed attorney help a Polish company negotiate contracts with foreign counterparties?

Whether you are buying or selling products and services globally, international business contracts are almost exclusively negotiated and drafted in English. Signing a standard contract provided by a foreign party often exposes Polish businesses to unexpected legal liability, harsh penalties, or unfavorable jurisdiction clauses.

Bringing an experienced, U.S.-licensed attorney into your negotiations completely shifts the power dynamic:

• Drafting and hardening your standard terms. I regularly review, upgrade, or completely rewrite my clients' standard terms and conditions, warranties, purchase agreements, and related legal documentation. This ensures full regulatory compliance while proactively insulating your company from operational, financial, and liability risks.
• Applying your terms and conditions first. Whenever possible, I insist that your newly optimized sales or purchase terms govern the deal. Presenting polished, seller- or buyer-friendly contracts backed by a native-English U.S. lawyer immediately establishes a position of strong authority and professionalism.
• Securing fair, balanced terms on counterparty forms. When a counterparty insists on using their paperwork, I systematically negotiate their proposed terms, purchase orders, service level agreements, and warranty demands down to a balanced standard. Crucially, I make sure you fully understand every hidden risk and legal exposure before you sign.
• Native business-English precision. Subtle nuances in English legal terminology can drastically alter your obligations. Negotiating in native legal English ensures your intent is captured accurately and your legal risks are strictly controlled.
• Real-time regional support. Located in Poland, I provide high-level American legal and commercial expertise during your business hours, and I am ready to join real-time deal calls with counterparties worldwide.

Can you help my Polish business negotiate cross-border deals and expand globally?

Yes. I support Polish and European companies closing deals across Europe, North America, Asia, and worldwide — wherever business contracts are negotiated in English. I act as your integrated legal and commercial partner, ensuring your international transactions comply with both Polish legal frameworks and international commercial standards.

Because I combine deep legal expertise with decades of international business experience, I handle the full life cycle of global commercial transactions, including:

• Structuring international deals. Drafted and negotiated to protect your profit margins, operational timelines, and long-term scalability.
• Sales, licensing, and distribution agreements. Crafting robust contracts for cross-border resellers, agents, direct-to-buyer sales, and software and technology licensing.
• Risk allocation and compliance. Aligning cross-border terms with international trade standards, export requirements, and foreign risk-management practices.
• Commercial viability. Evaluating every deal not just on legal enforceability, but on real-world commercial sense and strategic fit.

Do you offer strategic business consulting in addition to legal representation?

Yes. Legal terms cannot be separated from commercial reality. Beyond formal legal drafting and risk mitigation, I provide strategic commercial advisory to help Polish companies structure profitable international deals. Business consulting engagements are provided through James Enterprises, my international business consultancy; legal services are provided through RBJ LAW.

Because I bring extensive experience as both an attorney and an international business executive, my services extend to:

• Commercial deal structuring. Aligning contract terms with your actual profit margins, operational capacities, and delivery timelines.
• Go-to-market and sales strategy. Structuring cross-border pricing models, licensing structures, and distribution terms that appeal to foreign buyers.
• Negotiation strategy. Position-building and strategic advice before you step into negotiations with international counterparties.
• Advisory and supervisory board roles. Serving as a trusted commercial and legal advisor on advisory or supervisory boards (rada nadzorcza) for Polish companies scaling globally.

Can you work alongside our existing Polish legal counsel (radca prawny or adwokat)?

Yes. I partner with in-house legal teams and Polish law firms. While your local counsel handles Polish corporate law, local employment, and domestic tax matters, I step in to handle:

• Native-English contract negotiation. Managing the international counterparties in native legal English.
• Cross-border risk and foreign-law assessment. Insulating your company against exposure to foreign jurisdiction risks, particularly U.S. and common-law standards.
• Bridging commercial and legal gaps. Translating complex legal constraints into practical, revenue-generating commercial terms that sales teams can actually execute.

What types of businesses and industries do you typically represent?

I work with ambitious businesses that offer specialized, high-value products or services with strong potential for global growth. Whether you are entering new export markets or scaling an established foreign footprint, I tailor my legal and commercial support to your specific sector:

• Specialized manufacturing and industrial exporters. High-tech machinery, specialized components, consumer goods, and industrial equipment requiring clear international warranties, supply-chain protection, and compliant distribution contracts.
• B2B professional services and technical consultancies. Engineering firms, specialized agencies, and technical consultancies entering into high-value service level agreements (SLAs), master service agreements (MSAs), and consulting contracts with foreign enterprise clients.
• Import/export and international trading companies. Distributors and trade intermediaries needing robust cross-border agency agreements, logistics risk allocation, and international purchase-order terms.
• Software, SaaS, and technology providers. Technology and digital-product companies scaling into global markets needing clear software licensing, end-user terms, and cross-border vendor agreements.
• MedTech, life sciences, and specialized equipment. Companies exporting medical devices, laboratory hardware, or health-tech products that require precise international liability limits, regulatory compliance reviews, and buyer contract negotiations.

Can you serve as an independent board member or advisor for Polish companies going global?

Yes. I am available for supervisory board (rada nadzorcza) and advisory board positions for Polish SMEs planning international expansion. I bring over 25 years of international business, legal, and board-level experience to guide governance, risk management, and global growth strategies.

What credentials and experience do you bring to my business?

I bring over 25 years of combined legal and international business experience, giving clients a rare hybrid of deep legal expertise and practical commercial acumen.

• California State Bar admission. Admitted to practice law by the State Bar of California in 1998, providing authoritative expertise in U.S. law, common-law contracts, and Western business practices.
• Registered foreign lawyer in Poland. Formally registered as a foreign lawyer with the Regional Bar Council in Łódź (Okręgowa Rada Adwokacka w Łodzi), allowing me to advise local enterprises directly within the Polish legal framework.
• 25+ years of business leadership. Beyond practicing law, I have spent over two decades as an international business manager, board advisor, and executive. This real-world experience means I evaluate contracts through the lens of profit margins, risk allocation, and business growth — not just abstract legal theory.

How are legal and strategic commercial engagements structured?

I offer transparent, flexible fee structures designed to fit the growth stage and operational budget of expanding businesses:

• Outside general counsel retainers (recommended for growth). A predictable monthly retainer that provides your business with ongoing legal counsel, contract drafting, real-time negotiation support, and commercial advice without the overhead of an in-house chief legal officer.
• Project-based fixed fees. Transparent, fixed-fee arrangements for specific commercial transactions, complete contract rewrites, complex deal negotiations, or regulatory risk assessments.
• Strategic advisory and board roles. Structured engagements for supervisory board (rada nadzorcza) or advisory board representation, providing regular strategic and commercial governance.
• Hourly counsel. Standard hourly billing for ad-hoc legal reviews, brief contract assessments, or targeted negotiation support.

Where are your services provided?

While physically based near Łódź, Poland, I represent clients across all of Poland — Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, and beyond — and internationally. Consultations and negotiation sessions are held via video conference or in person as required by the deal.