Samoa’s legal system, rooted in English common law but shaped by fa’a Samoa, is as nuanced as it is principled. American Samoa’s hybrid system blends U.S. federal oversight with deeply entrenched communal land and matai customs. Operating legally across these borders requires more than a good lawyer. It demands regional fluency.
MerMada Pacific delivers tailored legal strategy and compliance advice to international entities entering or expanding in the Pacific. From land agreements in Samoa to employment compliance in American Samoa to regulatory navigation across Pacific jurisdictions, our work is based on one principle: do not mistake similarity for sameness.
We help clients avoid legal missteps by understanding what’s written in the statute, and what’s understood in the village.