Kai Bitter

Member
Cincinnati
T 513.369.4809
F 513.651.6981
3300 Great American Tower
301 East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Kai is a member in the International Services Group of the Firm's Corporate Department.  His practice is concentrated on advising multinational businesses in corporate and commercial matters and regularly involves mergers and acquisitions, joint venture formations, distribution and agency agreements, and transnational dispute resolution. Admitted as a lawyer both in Germany and Ohio, Kai has launched a German Desk in our Cincinnati office which merges the firm's expertise in assisting German clients in the US and that offers the services of a German law firm to domestic clients in cooperation with our alliance partner.  

Prior to joining our firm, he practiced in the corporate departments of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Baker & McKenzie in Germany. He graduated from his law school in Muenster/Germany in 2000 and holds a post-graduate degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Experience

2011

  • US counsel to Germany’s largest wire and cable manufacturer in corporate, HR, IP, and commercial matters, including M&A (since 2008).
  • Co-lead counsel to foreign conglomerate in sale of one of the largest beverage alcohol distilleries in the world to two strategic buyers.
  • Represent US companies in corporate, commercial, and others matters with business partners and subsidiaries in Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.
  • US counsel to foreign-owned companies from various industries (plastic molding, steel mesh reinforcement, commercial knives, label printer, international choir competitions and festivals, industrial sensors, waste separators, gear drives, automotive safety technology, media consultancy, education, coating equipment, machine tooling, and others).

2010

  • Represented medical software solution provider in sale to health care provider.
  • Represented German-owned insurance group in sale of Alabama insurance agency.
  • Represented various US companies in corporate and commercial matters regarding their foreign operations, including acquisitions and entity formations; countries include France, Spain, Cayman Islands, Mexico, Sweden, Germany, Canada, and Morocco.
  • Represented Japanese tier 1 automotive supplier in commercial dispute under the CISG and the UCC with German tier 2.

2009

  • Advised Dutch-based European market leader in steel mesh reinforcement and US partners on US joint venture formation.
  • Represented US entities of British specialist engineering conglomerate in group refinancing.
  • Represented various US companies in corporate and commercial matters regarding their foreign operations, including acquisitions and entity formations; countries included Germany, Sweden, and British Virgin Islands.
  • Represented German tier 1 automotive supplier in dissolution of its US operations. 

2008

  • Represented lien resolution provider in sale of majority stake to private equity fund.
  • Represented health information provider in strategic acquisition.
  • Represented software startup in connection with a Series A preferred financing from four angel funds.
  • Represented German based plastic molding manufacturer in shareholder dispute with US joint venture partner and subsequent buy-out.
  • Assisted UK listed company in its acquisition of a leading US manufacturer of isolated electrical power systems and electrical raceways based in Kentucky.
  • Represented Trinidad-based rum producer in its acquisition of a Bourbon distillery

    Published Articles & Seminars

    E.U.'s Value Added Tax and Other EU Topics for Exporters

    Panel discussion with Henry Grzes (SS&G CPAs), Sven Hoffmann (Wahlert Rechtsanwälte), Sabine Schuefer (Wahlert Rechtsanwälte) and Kai Bitter (Frost Brown Todd LLC).

    November 14, 2011, Cincinnati (broadcasted by video to other FBT offices and by webinar)

    Welche Unternehmensform für welches Ziel?

    White Paper published by Vogel Medien Verlag

    March 2011

    Selling Your Products in Germany

    • Expanding into the German Market – market dynamics, cultural issues & marketing approach, by Dr. Ingo Koenig, Koenig & Consultants, Toronto, Canada / Hamburg, Germany.
    • Understanding Distribution – sales reps, distributors, JV partners & subsidiaries, by Kai Bitter, Frost Brown Todd, Cincinnati. 
    • Protecting your IP and Regulatory Compliance – how to protect your IP & costs, by Dr. Horst Teller, Wahlert Rechtsanwälte Attorneys, Stuttgart, Germany. 
    • Taxation in Germany – how VAT works with imports/exports & between EU member states, by Sabine Schuefer, Wahlert Rechtsanwälte Attorneys, Stuttgart, Germany.

    October 13, 2009, Louisville

    Selling to Central & South America

    Speakers:

    • Kai Bitter, Senior Associate, Frost Brown Todd
    • Sergio Perez, Associate, Andre Tinoco Abogados

    October 29, 2008, Cincinnati

    Exporting to the European Union

    Speakers:

    • Kai Bitter, Senior Associate, Frost Brown Todd
    • Jan de Beer, Senior Associate, Frost Brown Todd

    July 24, 2008, Louisville

    Germany, the EU and the US

    Speakers:

    • Kai Bitter, Senior Associate, Frost Brown Todd
    • Dr. Horst Teller, Partner, Wahlert Rechtsanwaelte
    • Sabine Schuefer, Associate, Wahlert Rechtsanwaelte

    April 21, 2008, Nashville

    April 22, 2008, Louisville

    The European Union's REACH Legislation

    Speakers:

    • Phil Schworer, Member, Frost Brown Todd
    • Kai Bitter, Senior Associate, Frost Brown Todd
    • Jeff Culver, Associate, Frost Brown Todd

    Update on Legal Developments in Germany

    Speakers:

    • Kai Bitter, Associate, Frost Brown Todd

    January 25, 2008, Cincinnati (Louisville, Lexington, Nashville and Columbus by video)

    Other Contact Info

    Assistant

    Kathy Strunk
    Email
    T 513.651.6166
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