Section 1782
& Evidence Gathering Tools
Strategic U.S. Evidence-Gathering for Cross-Border Litigation and International Proceedings
A Precedent-Setting Leader
in U.S. Federal Discovery for Foreign Litigants
Sequor Law is frequently called upon to strengthen cross-border investigations and represent foreign litigants and interested parties that need evidence connected to the United States. Drawing on years of experience with a wide range of evidence-gathering tools, few firms can match Sequor Law’s ability to deploy the right tool for the matter.
Sequor Law is a leader in the use of 28 U.S.C. § 1782, including precedent-setting victories in multiple federal circuit courts of appeal, such as Consorcio Ecuatoriano de Telecomunicaciones S.A. v. JAS Forwarding (USA), Inc., 747 F.3d 1262 (11th Cir. 2014), and Novalpina Capital Partners I GP S.A.R.L. v. Read, 149 F.4th 1092 (9th Cir. 2025).
Known colloquially as “Section 1782,” the statute allows foreign litigants and interested persons to seek judicial assistance from U.S. federal courts to obtain evidence for use in proceedings before foreign or international tribunals. Federal courts have confirmed that evidence obtained under Section 1782 may be used in civil, criminal, probate, bankruptcy, marital, administrative, and regulatory matters, among others.
Unlike other cross-border discovery mechanisms such as letters rogatory or Norwich Pharmacal orders, Section 1782 can often be pursued directly by the applicant, without the involvement of the foreign court or government authorities.
A successful applicant gains access to U.S.-style discovery, including site inspections, document production, and deposition testimony under oath. Typical subpoena targets include businesses, affiliates, subsidiaries, financial institutions, former employees, lawyers, accountants, brokers, escrow agents, galleries, and auction houses.
Section 1782 can often be pursued on an ex parte basis and does not require the applicant to show that domestic evidence-gathering mechanisms in the foreign case have been exhausted or that the evidence will be admissible abroad.
Sequor Law’s professionals also have substantial experience with treaty-based evidence-gathering tools, including MLAT requests, Hague Evidence Convention requests, letters rogatory, and letters of request.
