Ten days ago I was in Belfast, speaking on a joint Invest Northern Ireland- Catalyst program about doing business in the US. Much virtual ink has been spilled on this blog about when an Irish or Northern Irish company should form an affiliate in the US, and the reasons why. At the Belfast program, a participant asked me when an Irish or Northern Irish company might not need to form an affiliate in the US. Specifically, I was asked whether having/using a ‘hot desk’ in the US would require the Irish or Northern Irish company to form a US affiliate. The short answer is ‘no.’

Of course, there is a bit more explanation needed (I’m a lawyer after all…).  First, the answer to the question of whether one needs to form an affiliate in the US depends in part on whether the parent company can be deemed or determined to be doing business in one of the US states. That analysis can vary from state to state, and each US state has its own rules. But, in general, the use of a ‘hot desk’ on a periodic basis should not cause an Irish or NI company to be deemed to be doing business in most states. The second point is that the ‘doing business’ determination can and will change the more things an Irish or Northern Irish company does with that ‘hot desk.’ The more activity–making sales, servicing customers, executing contracts, hiring employees or contractors–and the greater the likelihood that the parent company would be deemed to be doing business in that state, and that’s when I recommend the formation of a US affiliate.  In other words, the more you do with a ‘hot desk’ and the more commercial contacts you have, the greater the likelihood that you’d be deemed to be doing business in a US state (or more than one) and should consider forming an affiliate.