Your leverage is usually strongest before your China factory knows you are leaving and before your plans in the new country become obvious to everyone else. That window does not stay open for long. Once it closes, fixing trademark gaps, tooling problems, and bad contracts becomes slower, more expensive, and much more difficult. Sometimes it does not just make the exit harder. Sometimes it makes the exit fail.
Doing Business Internationally: Why Your International Lawyer Should Handle Your Domestic Work Too There are times when you absolutely need a local specialist. A real estate lawyer who knows Oregon title issues, a New York tax lawyer, a California employment litigator. Some legal work is local, and it is a mistake to pretend otherwise. But
Why Demand Letters to China Suppliers Often Backfire Sending a quick demand letter to a China supplier can destroy your leverage. Twice last week, I had to explain that to companies that were not clients. Both wanted me to immediately send a demand letter to their China suppliers to force shipment of long-delayed product. I
Global IP Protection Strategy FAQ My blog post yesterday, Global IP Protection: Why You Need a Strategy, Not Just an Application generated a lot of questions. In an attempt to answer those we received (and those we anticipate receiving), I give you the below FAQs. If you are manufacturing abroad, expanding internationally, or selling through
Ten IP Monetization Mistakes That Quietly Destroy Global Trademark Portfolio Value IP deals rarely fail because someone forgot to file a trademark. They fail because of small operational gaps that compound over time. The ten mistakes below directly erode valuation, licensing leverage, and your ability to survive diligence. Why IP Monetization Fails In Practice Deals
Beyond China and Why You Need a Central Trademark/IP Hub What we’re seeing as companies diversify beyond China In recent years, a large chunk of our work has been helping long-term and new China clients shift manufacturing and supply chains to other parts of Asia, as well as to Latin America and Europe. As they
There are three keys to buying a Chinese brand: CNIPA-recorded IP, a China-enforceable supply contract, and distribution channel control.
Technology licensing lets you sell into China without a physical presence. Here is a 2025 playbook for diligence, export controls, IP protection, payment verification, and negotiating tactics that actually work.
China Manufacturing Risks in 2025: Why They’re Worse Than Ever The New Reality of Manufacturing in China Twelve months ago, a U.S. company wired $800,000 to a trusted Chinese supplier it had worked with for years. The factory never shipped a single product. Instead, it shut its doors, the owner disappeared, leaving the American company
Contract Enforcement in China: What Works and What Doesn’t Our clients will sometimes tell us that they view contract enforcement in China as impossible. They’re partly right. Enforcing contracts in China is complicated, unpredictable, and very different than in the West. But that doesn’t mean that contracts with Chinese companies are useless. It just means
