Universities in the United States are hardly novices in international initiatives, yet overseas projects today, although enticing, often seem novel to them, long experience notwithstanding. A number of motivators drive the new zeal to go overseas. Among these are a resolve to stay competitive in this era of heightened inter-institutional competition; visions of major revenue enhancement; a desire to enhance the institution's "brand value"; and rapidly increasing transnational intellectual exchanges and collaborations in any disciplines. As a partner in the higher-education practice of a law firm with 27 offices around the globe, the author can testify that the world of university transnational initiatives is bumpy and resembles no conventional shape. In this article, he presents some key examples, from a lawyer's perspective, of costly mistakes universities should do their best to avoid in pursuit of new international activities.