international classroom

So You Want to Start an International School? Legal Structure and Local Partner

Contents of this Article: 1. Legal Structure 2. Local Partner 3. Choosing the Right Deal Structure 4. Protect Your School’s Intellectual Property Demand for English-based and Western-style education is still running high in many countries around the world. An ever-increasing number of wealthy locals want to prepare their children to attend elite universities abroad and

China future business

China Best Practices for SMEs Still Drooling Over the China Market

Even with the current bilateral unrest in the U.S.-China relationship, the China market is still attractive because of its growing middle class (approximately 400 million) and its relatively easy plug-and-play manufacturing environment. A review of China’s manufacturing production over the past year shows that China hurt in Q1 of 2020 but continued apace starting in

Doing Business in China

China Updates its Negative Lists, Dropping Restricted Categories by Nearly 25%

In late June, China provided its 2020 updates to its Special Administrative Measures on Access to Foreign Investment (the “Negative List”), which outlines the economic sectors where foreign investment is prohibited or limited in some way. These 2020 updates were jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) and the Ministry of Commerce

A Legal Checklist for Doing Business Internationally

Contents of this Article: Confirm Legality Create a Contract Protect Your Intellectual Property Comply With Export Control Laws Understand Employment Laws Comply With Tax Rules Lawyers love checklists, and we international business lawyers are no exception. Me, I love clients, not only because they are the lifeblood of my law firm and thus my livelihood,

raining on city

Requiem for Hong Kong

A few weeks ago, in Hong Kong’s Saddest Day, we echoed legislator Tanya Chan’s sentiment after China’s rubber-stamp National People’s Congress announced it would enact national security legislation for the city.  As sad as that fateful May 21 was, we warned “the days ahead could be much sadder” for Hong Kong. Unfortunately, that prediction has

International lawyers

International and China Cannabis Look to U.S. Market for Growth

Although COVID-19 is causing much of the world to slow down, business deals in many industries continue, including from China. Companies continue to seek strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and investments as they enter new international markets or seek to relocate a portion of their business or supply chain from higher-risk markets, such as China, to lower-risk

International lawyers

Don’t Despair. China Isn’t Going Away Anytime Soon.

I am a glass half full kind of guy, which means that when I am reading and hearing all the bad news and pessimistic (and often well-researched) opinions coming out of the media, Twitter, academia, and the blogosphere (including this blog), I still think there must be a viable and a better path forward in

man giving business presentation

Doing Business Internationally: The 101

Just got back from teaching an International Law course at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, IN. I team taught this course with an experienced and excellent law professor, Professor Hannah Buxbaum. Professor Buxbaum is a powerhouse and I ended up learning a ton from both her and the students in the class. Teaching

China IP Protections

China’s New Foreign Investment Law and Intellectual Property Protections

Contents of this Article: How the new Foreign Investment Law will change intellectual property rights for foreign companies in China Overview of foreign direct investment (FDI) protections for intellectual property rights (IPR) in mainland China FDI Reform: the New National Statute Will Overhaul Current FDI Protections for IPR The FIL Overhaul Will Maintain and Build