Clarke Willmott

DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER, HEARS CLARKE WILLMOTT SEMINAR

The legal environment for doing business in China has been transformed in recent years - and UK companies need no longer fear for their intellectual property and patent rights.

This was the message to emerge from a seminar held at the Bristol office of leading law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, entitled “Working with China: Key Legal Issues”.

The event, held in conjunction with the University West of England and the Bristol China Partnership, was attended by a range of local businesses and professional firms.

The main speakers were David Zhang and Henry Wang, of the leading Qingdao-based You Hua law firm, who provided an overview of the changing legal environment in China, and its impact on foreign investment, along with Steve Mohun of patent and trade mark attorneys Haseltine Lake.

The seminar also looked at the issues involved in establishing a business in China, including intellectual property registration and enforcement, credit investigation issues and contracting with Chinese business partners.

“The legal issues which commercial ventures investing in China may come up against are not always easy to anticipate,” said William Whiteley, a partner in the litigation team at Clarke Willmott.

“Legal procedures are markedly different from those of the English system and dealing with them can present a barrier to trade for anyone who is unfamiliar with them. Understanding how the Chinese legal system can work in favour of investors is a distinct competitive advantage to any business which is thinking of investing in China, or of carrying on trade with partners there.

“That said, the methods of doing business in China are now much more ‘Westernised‘ than ever before and the rules governing the registration of intellectual property rights or patents, for example, are now very straightforward.

“UK companies can protect their products and processes through patent registration, and the Chinese government is working very hard to ensure that these assets are fully protected.”

ENDS 1st July 2009

For further information please contact Neil Fraser, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk