Doing Business in China – Strategic Considerations and Effective Approaches to Intellectual Property Protection
China and other Asian markets present areas for explosive business development, and interest and opportunities in the country have increased dramatically over the last few years. For U.S. business, the opportunities in China are unprecedented but require careful consideration of business structure and the protection of technology and intellectual property (IP) assets.
Foley hosted a stimulating roundtable discussion with IP Partner Catherine Sun, chair of the firm’s Asia Practice and a member of the Life Sciences, Entertainment & Media, and Automotive Industry Teams. Practicing in China and educated as a lawyer in both China and the United States, Ms. Sun has been focusing for more than 15 years on IP issues, cross-border M&A-related IP, international technology transfer, licensing, IP portfolio management, and strategic counseling. Foley filed an application with the Chinese Ministry of Justice early this year to open an office in Shanghai, and Ms. Sun will be managing that office when licensed.
Ms. Sun was joined by Danielle Tian and Jo Xu. Ms. Tian is a former partner in a top Chinese law firm who has practiced IP, corporate, and securities law for seven years. After earning her LL.M. in international comparative law, Ms. Tian worked for high-profile IP clients in the United States for two years. Her practice encompasses both U.S. and Chinese IP and cross-border transactions, and she has an established and growing network of local and national governmental contacts in China. Ms. Xu has practiced IP law in mainland China for three years and has experience in patent litigation, trademark and copyright registration, licensing, IP portfolio management, and enforcement programs for multinational companies as well as China’s anti-counterfeiting and nationwide customs protection programs.
Topics included:
- Business opportunities in China
- Effective IP strategies for enforcement and protection of patent, trademark, and copyright assets
- Structuring business transactions in China and the importance of cross-border IP counseling
- International technology transfer, licensing, and portfolio management