No Joint Venture in China should be established without an exit strategy. While JVs continue to be a worthwhile investment in order to build local knowledge and networks, increased regulatory, reputational, intellectual property, security and fraud challenges do not make them easy. Drawing on recent case studies, we will provide an understanding of the current China risk environment for market entry, operations and exiting JVs. We will also explore best practices in pre-transaction due diligence, ongoing risk management, implementing new compliance and governance structures and cultures and holding difficult conversations with your local partners.
Agenda
08.30 - 09.00 Registration
09.00 - 09.05 Welcome Remarks by moderator, Mr. Ronan Diot, Chair Legal Working Group, European Chamber
09.05 - 09.35 Presentation by Mr. Neal Beatty, Regional Director for Global Client Services at Control Risks in Greater China
09.35- 10.05 Presentation by Ms. Hannah Cao, Of Counsel at Steptoe & Johnson LLP
10.05 - 10.30 Moderated Q&A Session
Speakers
Neal Beatty, Regional Director for Global Client Services at Control Risks in Greater China
Neal is responsible for managing key account relationships and developing business with multinational clients in the region, advising on areas of integrity, security and political risk that impact their China operations. Neal also manages Control Risks’ growing business with Chinese companies looking to operate overseas, particularly in high-risk areas in the Middle East and Africa.
Neal consults with clients on issues relating to strategic risk management and crisis preparedness. Neal has assisted clients to assess vulnerability against internal and external threats and develop crisis management strategies. Neal also facilitates risk management workshops with senior management groups.
Neal has spent eighteen of the last twenty-one years living and working in Greater China. Before joining Control Risks, Neal worked as head of security in China for a large US financial institution, based in Beijing. Prior to this, Neal worked in Shanghai as a manager for a risk management consulting firm. In this position, Neal was in charge of risk management consulting, asset protection and other security assignments for a large group of multinational clients. Prior to this he worked for the Swiss group Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) in Taiwan. In that position he managed a team of internal auditors as well as the goods evaluation and classification teams working on government importation contracts
Neal has a Masters degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Leeds and a BSc in chemistry from Warwick University, both in the UK. Neal is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Ronan Diot, Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright
Ronan Diot is a corporate lawyer based in Beijing. His practice focuses on assisting foreign companies to do business in China and Chinese companies to do business overseas, with emphasis on cross-border mergers & acquisitions and regulatory aspects. Ronan has extensive experience of contracts and negotiations with a China element and has advised on a number of acquisitions and joint ventures projects within the PRC or abroad.
Ronan’s practice also focuses on regulatory aspects of doing business in China, including compliance with anti-bribery laws, PRC State and commercial secrets regime and white-collar crime.
His experience includes the establishment of companies in highly regulated industries such as the financial, telecommunications, aerospace, defence and security sectors and the associated compliance, employment, and competition issues connected with such matters.
Ronan is admitted to practice in France (Paris Bar) and Spain (Barcelona Bar). Before joining our practice, Ronan worked with the Corporate Department of an international law firm in Barcelona.
Ms. Hannah Cao, Of Counsel at Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Hui (Hannah) Cao is based in Steptoe’s Beijing office and advises both public and private companies on a broad range of China-related business matters. She has represented clients in China in connection with investments in various industry sectors, including financial services, healthcare, Internet, technology, education, media, manufacturing, and energy.
Ms. Cao advises international clients on various methods of China market entry via joint venture, merger and acquisition, and greenfield investment. She works proactively with clients to develop tailored investment structures and assists clients with negotiations, due diligence investigations and documentation. Ms. Cao also counsels clients on PRC regulatory matters of typical importance to foreign investments, such as foreign exchange controls, environmental protection, intellectual property protection, state assets transfers, and others.
Event Terms & Conditions:
Please be kindly reminded that we do not issue an invoice (fapiao) for event price up to 250 RMB. For event price up to this amount you will receive an official receipt (shouju) only.
