Interpreting and translation for business with Latin America

What is happening

A Russian manufacturer is negotiating by video with a Colombian distributor. They speak English, which is neither side's first language, and have twice understood the payment term differently.

An Argentine partner asks for an extract from the Russian companies register, the charter and the director's power of attorney in order to draft the contract. The documents are needed in Spanish with an apostille, and the company does not know how to prepare them.

A Mexican delegation is visiting a Russian plant. Interpreting is needed at technical meetings and during discussion of a memorandum of intent.

What the law says

• Russia and almost all Latin American countries are parties to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents of 5 October 1961, so a Russian public document intended for them needs an apostille rather than consular legalisation. Cuba and Haiti are not parties.
• For Cuba, the 1984 Treaty between the USSR and the Republic of Cuba on Legal Assistance in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters applies: documents drawn up or certified by the competent authorities of one party are accepted by the other without legalisation. Haiti requires consular legalisation.
• A Russian notary certifies either the accuracy of a translation or the authenticity of the translator's signature (Article 81 of the Fundamentals of Russian Legislation on Notaries No. 4462-1 of 11.02.1993).
• Where Russian law governs the negotiations, providing incomplete or false information is bad faith and gives rise to liability for losses (Article 434.1 of the Civil Code). Accurate interpreting of the terms reduces the risk of a dispute over what was actually said.

What we do

• We provide interpreting from Spanish and English for video negotiations and meetings in Moscow, with an interpreter where needed; negotiations and documents in Portuguese for Brazil are handled through an engaged interpreter or translator.
• We prepare a deal glossary in advance (product, delivery and payment terms, contract terminology) so that the interpreter and both parties understand them the same way.
• We translate contracts, specifications, letters and presentations into and from Spanish; a lawyer checks the translation of key terms.
• We prepare Russian documents for the partner's country (registry extract, charter, resolution, power of attorney) and arrange notarisation, apostille and translation.
• We confirm the translation and form requirements of the destination country with a local specialist: yours, or one we choose together with you.
• After negotiations we send a record of what was agreed in Russian and Spanish for both sides to confirm.

What we will need from you

• The subject and schedule of negotiations, the participants and the partner's working language.
• The draft contract, specifications and correspondence, if available.
• A list of documents needed in the partner's country and who will be receiving them.
• A power of attorney if we are to obtain and submit documents on the company's behalf.