TransAsia Lawyers News

Second Annual TransAsia Students of Legal Excellence Scholarship Awarded at East China University of Politics and Law

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:36:07 -0500

On 18 June 2008, TransAsia partner, Jesse Chang awarded the second annual TransAsia Students of Legal Excellence Scholarship to 10 deserving East China University of Politics and Law graduate students at a ceremony held at the university. Associate professor, Ms Jun Shao, and assistant dean, Mr Yueming Wang, of the graduate school presided over the event.

The scholarship aims to identify, encourage and reward academic and overall excellence by granting 1 first-place, 3 second-place, and 6 third-place scholarships, with the ultimate objective of promoting the development of exceptional legal professionals.

Each year, a committee consisting of TransAsia's senior partners awards these scholarships to recipients based on academic record, good citizenship, involvement in campus organizations and English-language ability. Special consideration is given to those students specializing in international, civil, and commercial law. All recipients are also required to take a strict written examination as well as participate in a review and interview process.

Following the awards presentation, Jesse delivered a congratulatory speech to the students and held an interactive Q&A session.

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Lectures at Northwest University of Politics and Law

manager — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:56:02 -0500

On 12 June 2008, Dr Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment practice, delivered a lecture at the Northwest University of Politics and Law in Xi'an to select faculty members and 30 students from the university's Employment Law Clinic. Dr. Wan's lecture was entitled "Approaching China's Employment Law: the Front Line, the Horizon and the Dream", and it addressed professional ethics for legal professionals, the background and current status of PRC employment law, and the application of the new Employment Contract Law.

The following day, Dr Wan attended a ceremony to commemorate both her appointment as an Adjunct Professor of the university, and the inauguration of TransAsia's Outstanding Employment Law Thesis Scholarship. The scholarship has been established to encourage innovative employment law research and foster active academic research among the university's students.

The Northwest University of Politics and Law places particular emphasis on employment law, and is one of the few universities in China to include employment law in their core curriculum for law students. For the full story and pictures of the event, please click here (Chinese)

TransAsia plays a role in The Forbidden Kingdom

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:43:30 -0500

The new big-budget Hollywood film,Â The Forbidden Kingdom, has just been released internationally. Filmed on location in China, this movie marks the first collaboration between martial arts veterans Jackie Chan and Jet Li. TransAsia is proud to have played its own part as PRC counsel to the production company for the film.

Our role included advising on various pre-production issues, such as permits and approval requirements, how to set up production bank accounts and how to hire a cast and crew in China. We also represented the production company in drafting and concluding its PRC co-production contracts, and handled the bilingual contracts of both female leads (Crystal Liu and Li Bingbing).

Our other recent film clients include Walt Disney Studios, Hairun Media Holdings, John Woo's Lion Rock Productions, Ruddy Morgan and Celestial Pictures.

TransAsia Partners Present at the IOE Global Industrial Relations Network

admin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:49:18 -0500

Istanbul:Â The Global Industrial Relations Network, organized by the International Organization of Employers (IOE), is a 2-day forum that brings together key industrial relations and HR executives from leading multinational companies to discuss global industrial relations practices.

Isabelle WanÂ andÂ Jesse ChangÂ were invited to speak at the event and jointly presented a brief outline of China's employment legal framework, coupled with practical advice for doing business in China. The topics covered in the partners' presentation included:

Employment Contract Law: overview of critical changes for employers
Employment law problems: issues that have surfaced after 1 January 2008 and their impact on multinationalsÂ
ECL detailed implementing rules: deliberation status
Contracts: conclusion, performance, renewal, termination and expiration Â
Probationary periods and minimum wages: requirements
Open-ended contracts: circumstances that trigger their application
Employee handbook: purpose and function
New rules: annual leave and statutory working hours
Trade unions: no longer an issue that employers can ignore
Employers: legal liabilities under the ECL
Crisis management: it happens to all companies when you least expect it

TransAsia Partner Presents at the International Financial Law Review's Asia M&A Forum

admin — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:00:10 -0600

Hong Kong:Â The Forum, spread over 2 days, presented attendees with an opportunity to hear from Asia's leading M&A specialists on cutting-edge developments throughout Asia. The sessions focused on specific countries as well as more general M&A-related topics, and featured keynote speeches from top company executives and in-house counsels.

Kevin GuoÂ participated as a panelist in the first session of the Forum which discussed the legal and practical developments surrounding China's continued emergence as a key player in global M&A transactions. Prior to an open discussion at the session, Kevin presented a speech entitled "Growing Pains: Regulatory Status of M&A in China".

TransAsia Inaugurates the First Employment Law Scholarship at Peking University Law School and in China

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:03:17 -0600

Beijing:Â TransAsia partnersÂ Jesse ChangÂ andÂ Isabelle WanÂ launched the TransAsia Scholarship for Employment Law at Peking University. This is not only the inaugural program for the university, but also the first of its kind in China.

TransAsia and Freehills Host "Invest in Australia" Conference

admin — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:03:59 -0600

Beijing:Â TransAsia, in collaboration with Freehills and the China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association (CIODPA), hosted a conference entitled "Invest in Australia - Beijing 2007". The conference, which was the brainchild of TransAsia, was held with the official endorsement of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), as well as the support of the Australian Embassy in China. The conference focused on informing PRC companies and SOEs on the various regulatory and political issues involved with investing in Australia.

Vice Chairman of the NDRC, Minister Zhang Xiaoqiang, the Australian Ambassador to China, Dr. Geoff Raby, and other senior officials and prominent executives spoke at the event, which was attended by over 200 senior business leaders and government representatives from both countries. Delegates agreed that the conference presented a unique opportunity to observe the growing importance of Sino-Australian relations, and receive practical insight into investment in Australia. The overwhelming success of the conference has led to the request for, and planning for smaller-scale workshops on select subjects, to be held next year in Australia.

Speakers at the conference included:

Mr. Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice Chairman, NDRC
Dr. Geoff Raby, Australian Ambassador to China
Mr. Liu Liange, Vice President, Export-Import Bank of China
Mr. Henry Wang, Invest Australia
Mr. Li Lianzhong, Chief Economist, CPC Policy Research Office
Mr. Luo Yi, Managing Director Australia, Chief Representative China, The Carlyle Group
Mr. Simon Moore, Managing Director Australia, The Carlyle Group
Mr. Ben Foskett, CEO, Invest Victoria
Mr. Zhang Zijian, Commissioner, Queensland Government Trade and Investment Office - Shanghai and Beijing
Mr. Jiang Baocai, General Manager, International Cooperation Department, SinoSteel
Mr. Andrew Low, Head of Asia, Macquarie Capital Advisers
Mr. Wang Jingbo, General Manager, SinoSure
Mr. Fan Chunyong, Secretary-General, CIODPA
Mr. Gan Ziyu, Chairman, CIODPA
Mr. Zheng Sizhen, Chairman, Jiangsu CIODPA
Mr. John Curtis, International Managing Partner, Freehills
Mr. Leon Pasternak, Partner, Freehills
Mr. Jesse Chang, Managing Partner, TransAsia Lawyers

Click here to view more photos

TransAsia Partner Presents Exclusive Workshop on the PRC Employment Contract Law

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:15:54 -0600

Singapore:Â This conference, organized by the Singapore Business Federation and presented by Isabelle Wan, focused on the significant implications of the new Employment Contract Law on the rights of employees and the legal liability of employers. With a personal involvement in the drafting of the new landmark legislation, Isabelle shared her knowledge of the new provisions in great detail with the delegates.

She covered numerous issues arising from the new PRC Employment Contract Law, including:

Overview of critical changes arising from the new Employment Contract Law
Conclusion, performance, amendment, renewal and expiration of employment contracts
New requirements for open- ended contracts
Drafting of employment contracts and employee handbooks
Implications of the Employment Contract Law on the termination of employment contracts
Enforcement of non- compete agreements
New rules on the secondment of employees
New restrictions on severance pay
Labor dispute resolution
Issues to note during the transitional period
Legal liabilities of employers

TransAsia Partner Presents Lecture to Peking University Graduates

admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 08:17:35 -0600

Beijing:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by Peking University as an honored guest speaker, to present a lecture to the University's law graduates on the key elements of the new PRC Employment Contract Law, as well as a detailed analysis of the employment relationship between foreign-invested enterprises and their employees.

TransAsia Partner Presents at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) In-house Legal Summit Beijing

admin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:19:46 -0600

Beijing:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by ALB as a distinguished guest to speak on the new PRC Employment Contract Law before an exclusive audience of in-house counsel and senior business leaders. She presented a workshop on the new PRC Employment Contract Law and its impact on employees, and focused on the extensive list of changes to the regulatory environment for labor relations nationwide.

The following matters were addressed in the workshop:

Critical changes arising from the new law
Conclusion, amendment, renewal, performance and expiration of employment contracts
Issues to be considered when drafting an employment contract
Special requirements for non- fixed term employment contracts
Key functions of company Policies and the employee handbook
Legal effect & key issues of non- compete agreements
Legal liabilities of employers
Effective handling of labor disputes (with case studies)
Prohibitions on discrimination in employment

TransAsia Sponsors the 3rd Annual China Luxury Summit

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:20:29 -0600

Shanghai:Â The Summit, organized by China Decision Makers Consultancy, presented attendees with an insight into the developing luxury market in China, and featured speakers from various international luxury companies, including LVMH, Ferrari, Folli Follie, Charmonde Luxury and Alfred Dunhill.

In support of this Summit,Â Jesse Chang, with assistance fromÂ Cameron Andersen, spoke about crisis management pertaining to the retail sector, covering the following topics:

Definition and examples of crisis management cases
Components of crisis management situations
Proper planning for crisis management:
- External -Â clear and effective methods of dealing with regulators and consumers
- InternalÂ - close liaison between HQ and local China management, as well as briefing of local employees
- Advisors -Â experienced law and PR firms essential, and possibly also others
Case Studies: smuggling, trade secrets and VAT invoices

East China University of Politics and Law Students Awarded TransAsia's Students of Legal Excellence Scholarship

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:22:08 -0500

Shanghai:Â TransAsia presented the winners of theÂ 2007 TransAsia Students of Legal ExcellenceÂ ScholarshipÂ with their prizes on campus at the East China University of Politics and Law. The TransAsia Scholarship seeks to identify, encourage, and reward academic and overall excellence, as part of TransAsia's continuing commitment to the development of China's legal system. A review committee consisting of TransAsia's senior partners and associates chose 1 first-level, 3 second-level, and 6 third-level Scholarship recipients from the East China University of Politics and Law's graduate program.

The committee selected winners based on factors such as academic record, activities reflecting good citizenship, and involvement in campus organizations; applicants were also evaluated based on their English-language reading, writing, and listening comprehension abilities. Special consideration was given to those students specializing in International, Civil, and Commercial law.

TransAsia and Freehills (Singapore) Hold Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) Exchange Session

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:23:49 -0500

Singapore: TransAsia co-sponsored this event, withÂ Isabelle Wan conducting a half-day presentation on the new Employment Contract Law in China. She shared her extensive knowledge of the current labor law and explained how this new piece of legislation will impact employees and their working environment.

She covered a range of topics including:

Background to the new Employment Contract Law
The new Employment Contract Law: discussion of the key areas, including written contracts, probation, mandatory consultation, severance pay, non-compete agreements and secondment
Impact of the changes and how to prepare for them
Perspectives of foreign-invested enterprises

TransAsia and Freehills Present Asian Legal Business (ALB) and HRM Workshop Series on China's Employment Law Reforms for 2008

admin — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:24:34 -0500

Singapore:Â Key Media invitedÂ Isabelle Wan to a training program hosted by ALB and HRM Workshop series to present a half day seminar on the new Employment Contract Law in China. This informative interaction was designed to familiarize corporations with the new legislation and to explain significant implications for employees, employers and the entity as a unit.

Her presentation covered an extended range of employment law issues and topics, including:

The net cost of labor in China
Working with the new employment law
Opportunities, risks and challenges presented by the new employment law to foreign enterprises
Understanding the labor climate in China
Implications on HR organizational structure

TransAsia Partner Presents at the 2007 Hong Kong Directors Forum

admin — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:25:23 -0500

Beijing:Â The Forum, organized by Key Media International at the Swissotel Beijing, attracted CHOs, HR Vice Presidents and HR Directors from all areas of the Asia Pacific.Â Isabelle Wan, as a guest speaker, presented a keynote workshop on the implications of the new PRC Employment Contract Law.

Training Session on New PRC Employment Contract Law

admin — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:26:55 -0500

Beijing:Â In an exclusive training session for senior management and HR executives of a world- leading Fortune 500 company with operations across China,Â Isabelle WanÂ spoke on the critical changes arising from the new PRC Employment Contract Law.

This detailed discussion included an authoritative interpretation of the legal theory underlying the new law, and focused on the practical issues affecting an employer's operations and legal liabilities under the new law, and suggested solutions.

TransAsia Sponsors AsiaLaw China Summit

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:27:34 -0500

Shanghai:Â Isabelle WanÂ conducted a workshop on the issues arising from the new PRC Employment Contract Law, with practical illustrations.

TransAsia Partner Presents Workshop for American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:29:20 -0500

Shanghai:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by AmCham Shanghai to present a workshop as part of its "Labor Contract Law Series". Isabelle's presentation focused on the practical issues of the new Employment Contract Law, as well as illustrative case studies.

Exclusive Corporate Workshop on New PRC Employment Contract Law

admin — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 09:34:24 -0500

Guangzhou:Â In an exclusive workshop for senior management and HR executives from one of the world's largest confectionary producers with operations across China,Â Isabelle WanÂ spoke on the critical changes resulting from the implementation of the new PRC Employment Contract Law.

This detailed discussion included an authoritative interpretation of the legal theory underlying the new law, and focused on the practical issues and solutions affecting an employer's operations and legal liabilities under the new law.

TransAsia Sponsors Asian Legal Business (ALB) In-House Summit Hong Kong

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:39:16 -0500

Hong Kong:Â As TransAsia was a key sponsor of the event,Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by ALB to present a workshop on employment law. Isabelle's workshop focused on the new PRC Employment Contract Law and its legal implications.

TransAsia Partner Presents at the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) Workshop on China's Employment Contract Law

admin — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:40:11 -0500

Singapore:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by SBF to present a half-day workshop focusing on the critical changes arising from the new PRC Employment Contract Law. Her workshop covered a wide range of employment law issues and topics, including:

Overview of critical changes arising from the Employment Contract Law
Matters of key concern during deliberations and framing of the final draft of the Employment Contract Law
Relationship between the Employment Contract Law and the PRC Labor Law
Conclusion, amendment, renewal, rescission and expiration of employment contracts
Drafting of employment contracts and employee handbooks
Legal effect of non-compete agreements and joint legal liabilities for outsourcing entities and actual employers
Legal liabilities of employers ( including requirements regarding severance pay)
Effective handling of labor disputes and case- studies

TransAsia Partner Presents at Conference Held by the Multinational Corporation Club Guangzhou (MCCGZ)

admin — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:41:12 -0500

Guangzhou:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by the Legal Affairs Committee of the MCCGZ, a non-profit organization authorized by the Guangzhou Municipal Government, to speak at the "PRC Employment Law Focus" conference, during which she presented an interactive speech on critical changes arising from the new PRC Employment Contract Law with practical illustrations. The conference attracted 120 attendees, including various Fortune 500 companies from across the globe.

TransAsia Partner Presents at Conference on the Latest Updates on PRC Employment Law

admin — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:41:49 -0500

Singapore:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by Fortress Intelligence as the distinguished speaker to present a half-day conference focusing on the critical changes arising from the PRC Employment Contract Law. Her presentation covered a wide range of topics with practical illustrations, including:

Overall update on the local labor rules of China's major cities
Overview of critical changes arising from the Employment Contract Law
Conclusion of employment contracts and mandatory provisions
Practical issues to be considered by employers when drafting employment contracts
Performance and amendments of employment contracts
Early termination and expiration of employment contracts
Enforcement of non-compete agreements
Joint legal liabilities for outsourcing entities & actual employers
Requirements regarding severance pay
Effective handling of labor disputes (c ase s tudies)
Legal liabilities of employers

TransAsia Hosts Employment Contract Law Forum with Official MOLSS Endorsement

admin — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:42:34 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia hosted the China Employment Contract Law Forum with the official endorsement and support of the PRC Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MOLSS). The Forum focused on explaining the proper legal interpretation of the new Employment Contract Law and illustrating its significant, wide-reaching effects.

Keynote speakers included:

Mr Zhang Shicheng,Â National People's Congress, Deputy Director of the Legislative CommitteeÂ
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Dr Chen Peiyong,Â State Council,Â Director, Labor and Social Security DepartmentÂ
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Mr Yan Baoqing,Â MOLSS, Director-General, Legal Affairs Department
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Mme Wang Rui,Â MOLSS, Deputy Director-General
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Mr Rui Lixin,Â MOLSS, Deputy Director-General, Legal Affairs Department
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Mr Zhang Shouqi,Â State Administration for Social Security, Deputy Director-General
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TransAsia Partner Addresses the 1st International Forum on the Content Industry & Intellectual Property (CIIP)

admin — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:03:44 -0500

Shanghai:Â Jesse Chang was invited to speak on regulatory developments and the challenges of new media at the 1st International Forum on the Content Industry & Intellectual Property, jointly held by East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

The Forum is part of the ECUPL-QUT Sino-Australian Intellectual Property Collaboration Program and provided a platform for academics, industry practitioners, consultants and government representatives to discuss key legal and policy developments with regards to the content industry and intellectual property in China and Australia.

Jesse shared his insight into the legal and policy framework for the digital content industry with the attendees by addressing the following areas:

New media and opportunities
Key legal issues, including market entry and corporate structure, as well as uncertainty in the regulatory environment
Regulatory framework
Regulatory s pider web
Government studies
Case study - convergence
2007 outlook and the need for further coordination among agencies

TransAsia Advises Ticketmaster in its Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Emma Entertainment Holdings HK Ltd.

admin — Thu, 24 May 2007 13:30:11 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia acted as PRC counsel to Ticketmaster, the world's largest ticket broker, in its acquisition of a majority stake in Emma Entertainment Holdings HK Ltd. As a result of the deal, Emma Entertainment will be renamed Emma Ticketmaster.Â Philip Qu and Denning Tan led the deal.

TransAsia Advises EA on its Equity Investment and Exclusive Publishing Agreement with The9

admin — Mon, 21 May 2007 13:30:49 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia continued serving as PRC counsel for Electronic Arts, Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) in advising on its recent US$167m acquisition of 15% of the common shares of The9 Ltd (NASDAQ: NCTY).Â Jesse Chang andÂ Kevin Guo led the deal.

TransAsia also advised on the simultaneously announced Exclusive Publishing Agreement between Electronic Arts and The9, under which The9 attains exclusive publishing rights for EA SPORTS FIFA Online in mainland China.

TransAsia celebrates publication of China's Media & Entertainment Law (Volume II)

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:31:41 -0500

Beijing:Â High-ranking Chinese government officials and international industry leaders joined TransAsia in celebrating the publication ofÂ China's Media & Entertainment LawÂ (Volume II). Brief remarks were made by:

Mr Liu Li (on behalf of Mme Yu Aiqun), State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
Ms Xie Aiwei, General Administration of Press and Publication
Mr John Woo, internationally acclaimed director
Dr Robert Lawrence Kuhn, IMG
Ms Pauline Zhang, Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu
Mr Yun Xuan (on behalf of Rick Cotton), NBC Universal
Ms Doreen Chan, BPA
Ms Gloria Wang, MPA
Mr Hugh Stephens, Time Warner (letter presented by Philip Qu)

TransAsia Partner Addresses Senior International Personnel of Austrade

admin — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:40:31 -0600

Shanghai:Â Jesse Chang was invited byÂ Austrade to give a presentation on TransAsia's development to a medium-sized firm, its staff and the maintenance of client service quality across a growing network. Jesse provided a detailed account of the firm's evolution, providing insightful guidance on the theoretical and practical aspects of TransAsia's quality management and its potential application to other entities in the services industry.

TransAsia Partner Presents at Asian Legal Business (ALB) In-House Legal Summit 2006

admin — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 12:42:15 -0600

Beijing: Isabelle Wan presented a workshop at the ALB In-House Legal Summit, addressing China's top in-house counsel, company directors and other delegates on developments in the PRC employment law.

Isabelle's workshop provided an in-depth discussion and analysis of employment law in China and gave special attention to the following key topics:

Critical changes arising from the draft PRC Employment Contract Law
Secondment arrangement for expatriates
Enforcement of non-compete agreements
Outsourcing vs. In-house HR management
Trade Union's power strengthened by law
Effective handling of labour disputes ( case studies)

Other speakers at the ALB In-House Legal Summit covered topics including private equity, cross-border M&As, dispute resolution and the associated risks of trading with China.

TransAsia Partner Presents at IPAS Participants Meeting

admin — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 12:43:34 -0600

Singapore: Isabelle Wan was invited by ICR Limited to attend the IPAS Participants Meeting for its customers in the Asia Pacific region to review the results of ICR's global salary and benefit survey for the high technology industry and to discuss relevant issues in international human resources.

As guest speaker, Isabelle discussed a wide range of employment law issues in China, including:

Critical changes as a result of the draft PRC Employment Contract Law
Expatriate employment
Common mistakes made in employment contracts, handbooks and wag payments
Enforceability of non-compete agreements
Potential legal liabilities in terminating employment contracts
Media's influence on employment termination
Employment issues with Mergers & Acquisitions
Trade unions
Labor disputes and resolution

TransAsia Sponsors the 2nd Annual China Luxury Summit

admin — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 12:45:26 -0600

Shanghai: The Summit, organized by China Decision Makers Consultancy, presented attendees with an insight into the developing luxury market in China, and featured speakers from various international luxury companies, including LVMH, Calvin Klein, Hermes, Prada, Ports and Ferretti Yachts.

In support of this Summit, Isabelle Wan led a workshop that provided attendees with an overview of PRC labor law and practical illustrations, covering the following topics:

Labor law trends, including an introduction to the draft Employment Contract Law
Drafting essential management-related employment documents
Common mistakes in employment contracts
Wages and overtime pay
Expatriates working in China
Hiring of employees by foreign-invested enterprises and rep offices
Employers' liabilities when terminating employment contracts
Proper handling of labor disputes
Strengthening of the power of trade unions by law

Jesse Chang was also invited to act as a moderator for a panel discussion on building a healthy retail environment for the growing luxury industry to prosper in China. The discussions covered various topics, including:

Immature retail environment prompts an urgent call for improvement in retail management
Ambitious expansion requires more high-end retail capacities
Retail excellence in China achieved with the multi-support and cooperation of partners

TransAsia Partner Presents at Regional Employment Law Summit

admin — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:47:02 -0500

Singapore:Â The summit, organized by Fortress Intelligence, comprised an expert panel of speakers, who were invited to address critical HR issues and present the current structure of employment laws in Singapore, China and India.Â Isabelle Wan was invited to speak as one of the panel members, where she spoke on the following:

Trends in labor legislation
Issues in relocating staff to China
Employer's liabilities when terminating employment contracts
Critical issues in M&As
Proper handling of labor disputes
Various case studies illustrating the practical effects of PRC Labor Law

TransAsia Partner Presents Workshop at the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) Inaugural Workshop...

admin — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 13:54:33 -0500

Singapore:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited by SBF to present a half-day workshop focusing on the legal implications of the draft PRC Employment Contract Law. Her workshop covered a wide range of employment law issues and topics, including:

Overview of the legal environment for employment
Key proposed changes as a result of the Draft Employment Contract Law
Rights and obligations surrounding the conclusion of employment contracts
How to draft employment contracts and employee handbooks (case studies)
Restrictions on and enforcement of non-compete agreements
Legal liabilities in respect of the termination of employment contracts (Case studies)
Rights of t rade u nions strengthened by new laws
Effective handling of labor disputes (case studies)
Legal liabilities under the draft Employment Contract Law

TransAsia Partner Addresses Senior Management Personnel of Enterprises from Thailand and other ASEAN Countries

admin — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:03:48 -0500

Bangkok:Â Isabelle WanÂ presented a one-day workshop: "PRC Labor Law - practical legal issues concerning foreign-invested enterprises" at the China/ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) Executive Program, for entrepreneurs, managers, executives, directors and other senior management personnel from enterprises in Thailand and other ASEAN countries.

The program was sponsored by the Institute of Private Economy of Peking University and Thailand Central Language Academy, and supported by the PRC National Development and Reformation Committee, PRC General Administration of Customs Affairs, Embassy of Thailand in China and Thailand Central Language Academy. The goal of the program is to assist people working in Thailand and CAFTA to understand China's legal system and environment.

Isabelle's workshop covered various aspects of employment law in China, and provided entrepreneurs with a better understanding of employment -related laws and regulations in China, as well as the content and current status of the PRC Labor Law. The workshop also gave illustrations of and solutions to many legal issues often encountered by foreign investors in China.

TransAsia Partners Address Thammasat University MBA Students at Tsinghua University

admin — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 14:05:22 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia PartnersÂ Jesse ChangÂ andÂ Isabelle WanÂ presented talks to students from the Thammasat University MBA program studying at Tsinghua University, on issues concerning foreign direct investment in China and employment law, respectively.

In his presentation, Jesse touched on several key factors that make China a preferred market for foreign investment and detailed the major issues that the foreign business community faces, including:

Sectors for foreign investment in the PRC
Corporate vehicles available for foreign investment
Regulatory framework and preferential policies for foreign investors
Legal and practical issues for foreign investors

Isabelle highlighted and explained the latest developments in employment law, clarifying important legal and practical employment-related issues currently confronting foreign investors in China, including:

Potential implications of the draft PRC Employment Contract Law
Common mistakes with employment contracts and wage payments
Hiring expatriates
Enforceability of non-compete agreements
Common termination mistakes
Role of trade unions
Labor dispute resolution

TransAsia Co-Sponsors Conference on Chinese Foreign Investment in the US

admin — Wed, 24 May 2006 14:06:46 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia, along with the China Industrial Overseas Development & Planning Association (an affiliate institution of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Covington & Burling, Booz Allen Hamilton, IBM and Citigroup, co-sponsored a conference on Chinese foreign investment in the US.

This high-level conference, which was organized to inform Chinese executives of the various regulatory and political issues involved in investing in the US, was attended by Zhang Xiaoqiang, the Vice Minister of the NDRC, and Ambassador Clark T. Randt, the US Ambassador to China, both of whom gave keynote addresses. More than 50 senior executives from leading Chinese companies attended the conference, along with representatives from the PRC and US governments.

The conference was split into various sessions, including:

Preparing to invest in the US
Introduction of relevant businesses conducted by Chinese institutions and companies
Investment strategies in the US
Sensitive issues relating to certain industry sectors

TransAsia Partners Address University of Purdue MBA Students at Tsinghua University

admin — Wed, 17 May 2006 14:07:27 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia PartnersÂ Jesse ChangÂ andÂ Isabelle WanÂ presented talks to students from the University of Purdue MBA program studying at Tsinghua University on issues concerning foreign direct investment in China and employment law, respectively.

In his speech, Jesse outlined several key factors which have made China a preferred market for foreign investment and detailed the major issues currently facing the foreign business community, including:

Sectors for foreign investment in the PRC
Corporate vehicles available for foreign investment
Preferential treatment policies for foreign investors
Legal and practical issues faced by foreign investors

Isabelle, the partner in charge of TransAsia's Employment Law Practice, highlighted and explained the latest employment law developments and clarified the important legal and practical employment-related issues currently confronting foreign investors in China, including:

Potential implications of the draft PRC Employment Contract Law
Common mistakes with employment contracts and wage payments
Hiring expatriates
Enforceability of non-compete agreements
Common termination mistakes
Role of trade unions
Labor dispute resolution

TransAsia Partners Jesse Chang, Phillip Qu and Isabelle Wan Present Workshops to Industry L eaders at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) In-House Legal Summits held in New York and San Francisco

admin — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 14:08:32 -0500

Jesse Chang and Phillip Qu presented complementary workshops on the PRC regulatory environment and policy developments in China's traditional and "new" media sectors, respectively. Isabelle's presentation examined the variety of legal issues to be navigated in the realm of PRC labor law.

Jesse addressed critical issues for foreign investors in China's film and television sectors, including:

Legal requirements and recent policy developments in respect of production and distribution, including satellite landing rights, domestic film production and cinema operations
Market entry and structuring options based on key case studies

Phillip explored the rich growth opportunities and unique challenges for foreign investors in China's new media frontiers (e.g., 3G and IPTV), including:

Foreign direct investment policy
Local partner identification
Intellectual property protection
Dealing with uncertainties in law and policy

Isabelle discussed the "Practical Implications of the Latest Developments in PRC Employment Law", covering a wide range of employment law issues in China, including:

Critical changes arising from the draft PRC Employment Contract Law
Expatriate employment
Common mistakes made in employment contracts, handbooks and wage payments
Enforceability of non-compete agreements
Potential legal liabilities in terminating employment contracts
Media's influence on employment termination
Employment issues with M&As
Trade unions
Labor disputes and resolution

TransAsia Partner Addresses the "Seminar on Relocating Employees to China", Organized by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF)

admin — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 13:09:20 -0600

Singapore:Â Isabelle WanÂ gave a keynote address to 80 top business leaders and HR managers on PRC employment law and its application to foreign employees. Attendees were also briefed on a wide variety of the latest developments critical to the outsourcing of employees to China, including:

Hiring by representative offices vs. wholly foreign-owned enterprise
Impact of the draft PRC Employment Contract Law on the hiring of foreigners
State laws v. local rules regarding foreigners working in China
Procedures for hiring expatriates and employer's obligations
Terms and conditions of expatriate employment
Proper handling of expatriate termination
Practical issues relating to the effective management of expatriates
Resolution of labor disputes involving expatriates

TransAsia Partner Presents at China HRM Conference

admin — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:09:55 -0600

Singapore:Â The conference, organized by Business Information Asia, comprised a panel of expert speakers who were invited to address critical HR issues in China.Â Isabelle Wan was invited to speak as one of the panel members, where she discussed and presented on the following topics:

Fundamentals of the PRC Labor Law
Wage-related issues
Hiring of foreign nationals
Trade unions
Amended Woman's Protection Law prohibiting sexual harassment
Dispute resolution

TransAsia Partner Addresses key HR Issues for Foreign Investors at the "Managing International Assignments in Asia Pacific Today

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 13:13:27 -0600

Singapore:Â Isabelle WanÂ spoke to representatives from major multinationals on PRC Labor Law issues at the ECA International conference. Isabelle's presentation highlighted the latest regulatory developments in China's employment law and offered advice on methods of overcoming the most common HR problems encountered by foreign investors in China, including:

Common misinterpretations of the PRC employment law;
Drafting employment contracts and handbooks
Employment-related issues arising in the context of M&A
Validity and enforcement of non-compete agreements
Hiring expatriates
Sexual harassment protection
Potential legal liabilities in terminating employment contracts
Effective handling of labor disputes

TransAsia Partner Presents Workshop on Employment Law at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) In-House Legal Summit 2005

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 13:14:20 -0600

Beijing:Â Isabelle WanÂ presented a workshop at the ALB In-House Legal Summit, addressing other delegates and leaders in the legal industry on developments and strategies for practicing employment law in China. Other major legal issues discussed at the summit included litigation and dispute resolution, foreign direct investment, banking and finance, construction, M&A, IP and antitrust.

Isabelle's workshop covered multifaceted aspects of employment law in China, including the summation and analysis of regulatory developments and case studies. Particular emphasis was given to the following topics, with reference to their influence on multinationals in China:

Labor disputes and resolution
Expatriate employment
Employee contracts and handbooks
Wage payment standards throughout China
Non-competition issues
M&A with respect to employment
Sexual harassment
Trade unions

ALB's attendee feedback statistics show that Isabelle's workshop was rated "excellent" for content, delivery and overall performance.

TransAsia Partner Addresses MBA Students at Tsinghua University on "Doing Business in China - A Legal Perspective"

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 13:14:57 -0600

Beijing:Â Jesse ChangÂ was the keynote speaker for the seminar at Tsinghua University, where he addressed students from the University of Illinois Executive MBA program and International MBA students studying at Tsinghua. Drawing on over 25 years' experience in foreign direct investment in China, Jesse outlined key factors which have made China a preferred market for foreign direct investment and detailed the major issues currently facing the foreign business community, including:

Promising opportunities
Corporate vehicles available for foreign investment
Common problems encountered by investors in China
Legal disputes under PRC law
Policy changes and the WTO

Peking University Law Students Awarded TransAsia's Students of Legal Excellence Scholarship

admin — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 14:16:32 -0500

Beijing:Â TransAsia recently announced the winners of theÂ 2005 TransAsia Students of Legal ExcellenceÂ Scholarship. The TransAsia Scholarship seeks to identify, encourage, and reward academic and overall excellence as part of TransAsia's continuing commitment to the development of China's legal system. A review committee consisting of 3 Peking University Law Professors chose 1 first-level, 3 second-level, and 6 third-level Scholarship recipients from Peking University Law School's graduate program.

The committee selected winners based on factors such as academic record, activities reflecting good citizenship and involvement in campus organizations; they were also evaluated based on their English-language reading, writing and listening comprehension abilities. Special consideration was given to those students specializing in International, Civil, and Commercial law. Peking University will hold a ceremony later this year to recognize the achievements of these outstanding individuals.

TransAsia Partner Addresses Key HR Management Issues at the "China HR Management in the New Marketplace 2005" Conference Organized by IBC Asia

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 14:17:38 -0500

Shanghai:Â Attendees were treated to lively discussions on issues ranging from staff retention to organizational culture. In addition, case studies were presented from a variety of perspectives, giving conference participants a real-life understanding of HR concepts and ideas as they apply in practice.Â Isabelle WanÂ briefed attendees on a broad range of important issues affecting China's HR environment, including:

HR's role and relationship with counsel
Hiring expatriates
Enforceability of non-compete agreements
Common mistakes with wages
Non-fixed-term employment contracts
New rules on de facto employment relationships
Amended Woman's Rights Protection L aw prohibiting sexual harassment

TransAsia Partner Addresses Practical Employment Law Issues at the HR Director's Forum Organized by Asia Legal Business (ALB) Magazine

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2005 14:18:36 -0500

Shanghai:Â Isabelle WanÂ addressed the HR Director's forum, where leading HR practitioners were briefed on a wide spectrum of the latest updates, changes and trends in PRC law, including:

Labor disputes
Tips on how to create an effective employee handbook
Non-compete obligations
M&As
Trends for legislation on sexual harassment

TransAsia Partners Address Leading Network of Employment Law Specialists

admin — Fri, 20 May 2005 14:19:59 -0500

Lisbon:Â Ius Laboris, an alliance of leading law firms specializing in employment law, pensions, employee benefits and comprehensive HR legal services, held its fifth annual Congress from the 19thÂ to 21stÂ May 2005.

Attendees participated in conferences and workshops on various topics, including:

Successful coordination of international projects
Participation in competitive tendering processes
HR management
Selection and assessment processes for appointing external legal advisors
PRC employment law
International collective bargaining
Sports law
Restructuring in the EU
Corporate restructuring

Isabelle WanÂ andÂ Jesse ChangÂ participated as guest speakers at the conference and gave presentations on PRC employment law issues. Isabelle spoke about the causes of and resolution methods for labor disputes, and Jesse presented a workshop on the media as an influential factor during the resolution of labor disputes in China.

TransAsia Partner Presents Employment Law Workshop at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) In-House Legal Summit

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 14:22:05 -0500

Shanghai:Â The summit focused on fundamental issues affecting in-house legal practices in China's business environment, and included panel discussions on IP protection and ethical standards in doing business in China. The various workshops conducted during the course of the event covered the following key topics:

Foreign direct investment
Regulatory compliance and risk management
Capital markets
Litigation and dispute resolution
Employment law
Restructuring of China investments

Isabelle WanÂ was invited to present the employment law workshop, which addressed the issues of labor relations in corporate restructuring and practical concerns for the termination of employment contracts and labor dispute resolution.

TransAsia Makes Keynote Address at China HRM

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 13:22:50 -0600

Singapore:Â China HRM, Business International Asia (BIA) held a day-long international conference focused on China's rapidly transforming HR landscape, providing foreign companies with an opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of HR practices nationwide and across different provinces in China. Attendees at this year's conference included HR directors and managers, HR consultants, tax advisors, legal counsel, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and managing directors of companies with employees in China.

Isabelle WanÂ presented the keynote address for this year's China HRM conference. Her presentation highlighted the most recent changes to China's employment law regime and included the following topics:

Common mistakes in interpreting PRC law
Employment contracts and non-compete agreements
Function of an employee handbook
Minimum wage payments
Trade unions
Contract termination

Other speakers at the conference discussed topics including salary structure, tax planning, and overall market trends in expatriate and local employee compensation.

Conference on China's E-Commerce Law

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:23:36 -0600

Shanghai:Â The Policy & Law Committee of the PRC E-Commerce Association recently held its 3rd PRC E-Commerce Policy & Law Conference at the East China Institute of Political Science and Law in Shanghai.Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited to participate in the conference and delivered a speech on "Online Transactions and Form Contracts".

TransAsia Receives Awards for Authorship at Labor Law Conference

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2004 13:24:25 -0600

Beijing:Â At the annual PRC Labor Law Conference, held on the 10th anniversary of the promulgation of the PRC Labor Law,Â Isabelle Wan presented a speech on "Employment Issues in Foreign Companies' Representative Offices in China".

In addition, Isabelle Wan andÂ Jesse Chang were given a Silver Medal Award by the China Labor Law Studies Association of the PRC Ministry of Labor & Social Security for their contributions towards the compilation and writing of the bookÂ China Labor & Social Security Law - Essential Facts ExplainedÂ (CCH 1998).

Conference on Employment Contracts in China

admin — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 13:25:02 -0600

Hong Kong:Â Key MediaÂ held its "Labor Contracts and Employers' Obligations in China" conference, covering recent legal developments affecting employment contracts and the scope of employers' obligations in the context of increased protections for workers throughout China. Topics discussed at the conference included distinctions among various types of employers and employees, mandatory terms and conditions precedent to employment, confidentiality and non-compete covenants, employment contract termination and breach, worker remuneration, social insurance obligations, and resolution of labor disputes.

Isabelle WanÂ delivered a keynote presentation at the event regarding worker remuneration, social insurance contributions and coverage, vicarious liability of employers for employee actions, employers' liabilities in connection with labor disputes, and application of employment contracts and employee handbooks during labor disputes.

TransAsia Participates in Legislative Deliberations on the Promotion of Informatization Construction

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 14:25:40 -0500

Beijing:Â At the invitation of the Beijing Municipal Informatization Office,Â Isabelle WanÂ participated in the second round of discussions of the draft version of theÂ Regulations for the Promotion of Informatization Construction in Beijing Municipality. TransAsia was among only a handful of law firms invited by the Beijing Municipal Government to comment on this draft item of legislation.

Conference on European CSR Supply Chain Practices

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 14:26:32 -0500

Paris:Â The European CSR Supply Chain Practices Conference, co-hosted byÂ IntertekÂ andÂ BSR, is a forum for European business leaders to meet and discuss issues pertaining to the responsible management of global supply chains. This conference emphasized the importance of supply chain practices in the context of a broader discussion of corporate social responsibility.

As part of this conference,Â Isabelle WanÂ presented a speech on "Common Mistakes in Interpreting PRC Labor Law", which focused on multinationals' auditing and regulatory compliance efforts in respect of employment law in China.

TransAsia Coordinates Visit by Ministry of Labor and Social Security Delegation to Australia and New Zealand

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2004 14:30:48 -0500

From 18 to 28 July 2004, TransAsia assisted a delegation of officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security who visited Australia and New Zealand to participate in meetings with government organizations, unions and employer federations, major employers, and leading employment lawyers to study labor dispute resolution systems in those countries.

TransAsia's pro bono practice played an instrumental role in coordinating related sponsorships, meeting arrangements, and logistical details for the delegation's visit.

Training Session on Implementation of PRC Labor Law

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2004 14:32:13 -0500

Hong Kong:Â In an exclusive training session for senior management and HR executives of one of the world's largest construction groups with operations across China,Â Isabelle Wan spoke on "Practical Concerns Arising from the Implementation of the PRC Labor Law".

This detailed discussion focused on several key areas of concern for employers in China, including labor dispute resolution, principles for signing effective and lawful employment contracts, non-compete obligations, working hours systems, and overtime wages.

US-China Workshop on Labor and Social Security Inspection Hosts Legislative Deliberations

admin — Wed, 19 May 2004 14:34:59 -0500

Qingdao:Â The 3-day US-China Workshop on Labor and Social Security Inspection brought together officials of the US Department of Labor, scholars and lawyers from Chinese Universities and law firms, as well as representatives from Chinese labor and social security departments, to discuss legislative development in China. The first of its kind, this event is part of a series of bilateral consultations between the US and China regarding cooperation on labor-related issues.

The participants discussed the draftÂ Regulations on Labor and Social Security Inspection. TransAsia was 1 of only 3 law firms invited by the PRC Ministry of Labor and Social Security to participate in the deliberations.

International Conference on Corporate Governance Focuses on Codes of Conduct

admin — Fri, 14 May 2004 14:35:48 -0500

New York:Â "Voluntary Codes of Conduct for Multinational Corporations", an international conference organized by the International Center for Corporate Accountability (ICCA), was held from the 12th to 15th of May in New York. The primary focus of the conference was to accelerate the rate of progress on the creation and implementation of voluntary codes in manners that:

Provide business institutions with flexible approaches that are both economically feasible and operationally viable;
Narrow the gap between corporate performance and societal expectations; and
Take cognizance of the legitimate needs and concerns of stakeholders.

TransAsia's senior professionals participated in the conference's China-focused session, "PRC Employment Laws: Practice vs. Enforcement", with the following presentations:

Labor Disputes: Team Composition, Media Influence, Judges' Expertise and Government Intervention (presented byÂ Jesse Chang);
Practical Concerns Arising from the Implementation of the PRC Labor Law (presented byÂ Isabelle Wan); and
Essential Questions for Non-Compete Agreements (presented byÂ Xing Xinmin).

The conference delegates included CEOs, General Counsels, Compliance Officers and other senior executives of leading multinational companies, as well as preeminent scholars of corporate governance from the US and Europe. The ICCA is a non-profit public policy research and action-oriented organization based at the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College of The City University of New York. The ICCA is dedicated to enhancing voluntary codes of conduct, accountability and transparency in all areas of business operations and especially as they pertain to corporate governance, sustainable development, fair and equitable treatment of workers, and environmentally friendly policies.

Legislative Deliberations on PRC E-Signature Law

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 14:36:55 -0500

Beijing:Â At the invitation of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress,Â Isabelle WanÂ participated in discussions on the draftÂ PRC Electronic Signature Law. Isabelle also contributed to the deliberation on the draftÂ Rules for the Construction and Promotion of Informatization of the Beijing MunicipalityÂ and theÂ Measures for the Administration of Exchanges of Information Among Government Agencies of Beijing Municipality (Trial)Â at the request of the Beijing Municipal Government Informatization Office.

A further round of deliberation on these items of legislation has been scheduled for July 2004.

Executive Forum in Singapore Explores Growth Opportunities in Chinese Legal Services Market

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2004 13:37:42 -0600

Singapore:Â Jesse ChangÂ joined LexisNexis in an internal forum on growth opportunities in China and Japan's legal services markets involving the most senior members of the world's leading online legal information search company . During his presentation, Jesse briefly outlined trends in China's market for the development of law firms, the hierarchy of PRC legal authorities, and the regulatory environment of China's media and Internet sectors.

Educational Forum in New York Focuses on Global Compliance Issues

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2004 13:39:46 -0600

New York:Â Isabelle WanÂ presented "Protecting Employers' Legal Rights: Practical Issues" at theÂ IntertekÂ Annual Social Responsibility Conference 2004. She also participated as a panel speaker for a forum on global regulatory and compliance initiatives in key sourcing markets.

The forum is an annual educational event aimed at assisting compliance executives in US and European-based global retail and brand companies to achieve a better understanding of new compliance initiatives, enforcement actions, statutory and regulatory legislation, and new compliance-related developments in source markets. Other panel speakers for the event included representatives from the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the International Labor Organization and the US Customs Service.

Legislative Deliberations on Public Sharing of Government Information by Government Agencies

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2004 13:40:25 -0600

Beijing:Â At the invitation of the Beijing Municipal Informatization Office,Â Isabelle WanÂ represented TransAsia in roundtable discussions on the drafting of theÂ Measures for the Administration of the Public Sharing of Government Information by Governmental Agencies in the Beijing Municipality (Trial). This piece of legislation is intended to improve the level of the Beijing Municipal Government's public services, prevent redundant investments of government resources, and promote the further development of electronic access to government information.

TransAsia Organizes Exclusive China Employment Law Workshop

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2003 13:41:01 -0600

Shanghai:Â TransAsia organized a one-day workshop on China Employment Law. Delegates attending the workshop included representatives of various international enterprises, local judges, and government officials. The primary focus of the event was to provide attendees with a proper understanding of China's regime governing labor relations.

The speakers at the workshop included senior officials from the Shanghai Labor Bureau, and Pudong Labor Bureau as well as TransAsia representatives. The day was broken up into 7 comprehensive workshops:

Expatriate Employment in Shanghai (presented by the director of the Shanghai Labor & Social Security Bureau Foreign Employment Office, Sun Hande);
Corporate restructuring: Labor Relations (presented by the director of the Shanghai Labor & Social Security Bureau Labor Relations Division, Tu Kefeng);
Non-Competition and Training Agreements (presented by the deputy leader of TransAsia's employment law practice,Â Xing Xinmin);
Labor Dispute Resolution (presented by the director of the Pudong Labor Dispute Arbitration Committee, Zhuang Chuanlin);
HR Management in China (presented by the senior manager of Price Waterhouse Coopers, Joyce Xu);
PRC Individual Income Tax (presented by the manager of Price Waterhouse Coopers Tax and Legal Services, Susan He); and
Trade Unions in China (presented by the leader of TransAsia's employment law practice,Â Isabelle Wan).

China HRM Keynote Address by TransAsia

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 14:41:45 -0500

Singapore:Â China HRM, a one-day international conference focused on China's rapidly transforming human resources (HR) landscape, provides foreign companies with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of HR practices nationwide and across different provinces in China. Attendees at this year's conference included HR directors and managers, HR consultants, tax advisors, legal counsel, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and managing directors of companies with workforces in China.

The hierarchy of central versus local PRC labor laws and regulations;
The preparation of effective employment contracts and employee handbooks;
Introduction to China's working hours systems, including recently implemented local systems for part-time employees in Beijing and Shanghai;
Legal requirements for payment of regular and overtime salary;
Employers' obligations and liabilities when terminating employment contracts;
Practical mechanisms for labor dispute resolution; and
Case study on the application of China's new rules of evidence on the handling of labor disputes.

Other speakers at the China HRM conference discussed topics including salary structuring and tax planning; HR trends in expatriate and local employee compensation and benefits; the challenges facing HR managers for recruitment and retention; and important tips for understanding cultural differences in the workplace.

Broadcasters Association Forum Discusses Impact of Media Law Reforms on Cable Television Sector

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2003 14:42:33 -0500

Hong Kong:Â The current state of the China media market and PRC media entertainment law was the topic of a panel discussion, hosted by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), which featured speakers Mr Liu Yanming, Chairman of Hairun Media Group, andÂ Jesse T H Chang.

The discussion agenda covered the latest developments in the PRC media sector and their impact on multi-channel television media owners and operators in the Chinese market. The gradual trend of the regulatory environment towards looser controls, and the prospects for domestic and international investors in light of the current explosion of general advertising revenues in China were also key topics.

Jesse also provided the attendees with a brief introduction to one of TransAsia's latest publications,Â China's Media & Entertainment Law, as well as overviews of the regulatory analyses included therein, which focus on the television, film, publishing, audiovisual products, and advertising sectors.

TransAsia Partner Addresses Workshop on Employment Law for Leading Hong Kong Investment Group

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 14:43:07 -0500

Shanghai:Â A two-day workshop on PRC employment law was arranged by Jardine Matheson Limited, with the main purpose of educating the Hong Kong investment group's senior HR managers on key issues relating to PRC employment law.Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited to speak on various issues relating to employment law, including employment contracts, overtime payments, sick leave, and probationary periods.

BSR Labor Law Seminar

admin — Wed, 23 Oct 2002 14:44:00 -0500

Shanghai:Â Isabelle WanÂ was invited to present an exclusive seminar on employment law in China, organized byÂ BSR. Isabelle's presentation discussed various topics relating to PRC employment law, including:

China's labor and social security legislation;
Juvenile workers;
Minimum wage standards;
Overtime wages;
Sick leave policies; and
Comprehensive working hours system.

TransAsia Partner Presents Training Session on PRC Employment Law for Leading Network of European Law Firms

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2002 14:44:50 -0500

Amsterdam:Â Isabelle WanÂ presented the China-focused session for the Employment Law Network Training Conference, attended by approximately 150 leading European lawyers specializing in employment law.

This presentation provided an introduction to PRC legislation in respect of employment contracts, tips on how companies can avoid labor disputes, and case studies of various PRC labor disputes.

TransAsia celebrates publication of China's IT & Telecoms Legislation (Volume II)

admin — Thu, 27 Sep 2001 14:45:28 -0500

Beijing:Â International industry leaders joined TransAsia in celebrating the publication ofÂ China's IT & Telecoms LegislationÂ (Volume II). A number of high-ranking Chinese government officials also attended the launch, including:

Ren Zemin, Deputy Minister of the State Press and Publication Administration;
Liu Zhengrong, Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office;
Zhao Xiaofan, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Information Industry; and
Zhao Zhiguo, Director of the Ministry of Information IndustryÂ (Telecommunications Administration Bureau).

China Labor & Social Security Law Forum

admin — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 13:46:52 -0600

Shanghai:Â In November 1999, endorsed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and in cooperation with the Shanghai Foreign Service Corporation, TransAsia held its third forum on Chinese labor law in Shanghai. The forum addressed the following topics:

Pensions and supplementary pensions;
Medical insurance and supplementary medical insurance;
Labor disputes and arbitration;
Termination of labor contracts;
Key representative office personnel issues;
Individual income tax; and
Housing funds.

China Labor Law Forum

admin — Sun, 30 Nov 1997 13:48:14 -0600

Beijing & Hong Kong:Â In June 1997 and November 1997, with the support of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, TransAsia organized 2 highly successful conferences on Chinese labor law in Beijing and Hong Kong. Speakers included recognized international HR and employment law experts, and senior officials.

Dr Isabelle Wan Presents at Fortress Intelligence Conference

admin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:40:21 -0500

Singapore: Dr Isabelle Wan spoke at a seminar entitled â€œUpdates on Chinaâ€™s New Employment Contract Law.â€ In addressing the attendees, Dr Wan touched on a number of topics, including legislative trends, newly promulgated laws, open-ended contracts and trade unions.

TransAsia Sponsors the 4th Annual China Luxury Summit

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:55:06 -0600

Shanghai: The annual Summit, organized by China Decision Makers Consultancy, presented attendees with an insight into the developing luxury market in China, and featured speakers from various international luxury companies, including LVMH, Gucci, Mercedes Benz, Swarovski, Walpole and Altagamma.Â

In support of this yearâ€™s summit, Jesse Chang delivered a presentation on crisis management, specifically focusing on strategies for handling crisis situations and providing illustrative case studies.

Dr Isabelle Wan also presented a case study of an employment law crisis situation.

Dr Isabelle Wan of TransAsia Presents at the PEO Compensation and Benefits Conference

admin — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:05:16 -0500

Hong Kong: Dr Isabelle Wan recently spoke at the PEO Compensation and Benefits conference on October 24th. Her speech focused primarily on the Employment Contract Law and its implementing regulations, and the Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law, and how they apply to employee compensation and benefits.

Dr Isabelle Wan Speaks at China Law & Practice's 5th Annual China Summit

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:18:59 -0500

Shanghai: A leading Asia-focused publisher and conference organizer, China Law & Practice held its 5th Annual China Summit on September 25th. TransAsiaâ€™s Dr Isabelle Wan was asked to present at the Summitâ€™s workshop on employment law.

Dr Wan began the workshop with a speech entitled â€œThe Employment Contract Law Implementing Regulationsâ€, and covered the major issues and developments of the Employment Contract Law, the recently promulgated Labor Dispute Mediation and the Arbitration Law, as well as the new Guangdong Guiding Opinions on the Hearing of Labor Dispute Cases.

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Presents at IBC Conference

admin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:32:53 -0500

Shanghai: Dr Isabelle Wan recently spoke on Implementing China's New Labor Law at a 2-day conference held by IBC. The conference was aimed at providing a forum in which the impact of China's new labor regulations could be discussed, and employment law experts could share their experiences through recent case studies.

Dr Wan's speech, titled "Practical Illustrations of the Key Provisions of the Detailed Implementing Regulations of the Employment Contract Law", touched upon a variety of subjects, namely the new rules on the conclusion of employment contracts, the termination and expiration of open-ended contracts, and special rules on labor dispatching.

TransAsia Holds Employment Contract Law and Trade Union Round Table Meeting

admin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:37:26 -0500

Beijing: Effective on September 18th, the Implementing Regulations of the Employment Contract Law have been a long awaited development since the effectiveness of the Employment Contract Law at the beginning of this year. Directly in the wake of their effectiveness, TransAsia held an Employment Contract Law and Trade Union Round Table Meeting on 22 September 2008 for select clients to directly address the issues brought about by, and foster an open dialogue on the implications of, the new regulations.

Speaking at this full day event was one of the utmost authorities on PRC labor law, Mr Zhang Shicheng, Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of the National Peopleâ€™s Congress. Joining him were Dr Isabelle Wan and Mr Guan Binfeng, former Director of the Legislative Department of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

Dr Isabelle Wan Holds an Employment Workshop with the Singapore Business Federation

admin — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:40:55 -0500

Singapore: Directly following the publication of the Detailed Implementing Regulations of the Employment Contract Law (Regulations), Dr Isabelle Wan held a workshop in Singapore entitled â€œIntroduction to the Draft Detailed Implementing Regulations of the PRC Employment Contract Lawâ€. During the workshop, she focused mainly on the newly published Regulations, as well as a number of other employment issues, such as labor dispatching, open-ended contracts and mandatory annual leave.

TransAsia Partners Present at Employment Contract Law Conference

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:18:55 -0600

Singapore: TransAsia partner, Dr Isabelle Wan, and managing partner, Jesse Chang, spoke at a half-day conference held by Fortress Intelligence on recent updates to Chinaâ€™s Employment Contract Law (ECL), with a specific emphasis on key portions of the implementing regulations of the ECL.

Dr. Wan first addressed the attendees on the detailed implementing regulations, touching on such topics as the new rules on conclusion of employment contracts, termination and expiration of open-ended contracts, special rules on labor dispatching, and trade union establishment. Mr. Chang then delivered a presentation on crisis management, in which he discussed the key components of effectively handling a crisis and provided illustrative case studies.

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Lectures at Peking University

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:20:01 -0600

Beijing: On 10 Dec 2008, Dr Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment practice, delivered a lecture entitled â€œLabor Dispute Resolution during the Economic Crisisâ€ to the students of Peking University.

Dr Wan addressed employersâ€™ strategies in the current global economic environment and lawful means for them to lay off workers, as well as major changes to the open-ended employment contracts brought by the Employment Contract Law. She also analyzed tri-partite employment relationships, economic compensation and liability following the rescission or termination of employment contracts. For the full story, please click here (Chinese).

TransAsia Plays Key Role in Publication of Chinaâ€™s Laws & Regulations on Radio, Film and Television

manager — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:16:18 -0600

Beijing: Chinaâ€™s Laws & Regulations on Radio, Film and Television is slated for publication next month. The book is an important project of the Legal Department and the International Cooperation Department of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and is published by Law Press China. We are pleased to have played, and to continue to play, a pivotal role both as Supporting Editor and also by translating 34 and editing the English for the remainder of the 47 regulations.Â

Not unlike our own publications, Chinaâ€™s IT & Telecoms Legislation and Chinaâ€™s Media & Entertainment Law, this book is intended to provide academics, industry players and other interested parties with access to recent regulations and industry developments, and to promote international exchange and cooperation in these areas. The key difference lies in the fact that our firmâ€™s publication contains detailed commentary about, and analysis of, the various laws and regulations and their implementation. TransAsia is privileged, and indeed honored, to enjoy an excellent working relationship with the SARFT, and is proud to have been invited to take part in this latest collaboration. The book also reinforces our firmâ€™s dedication to supporting the study and development of PRC media law.Â

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Leads Employment Contract Law Workshop

jb — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:01:44 -0600

Singapore: Dr Isabelle Wan recently spoke on China's New Employment Contract Law at a workshop held by the SBF. The workshop was aimed at addressing the critical changes for employers resulting from the ECL, as well as the Regulations, and how they will affect the employer's operations in China.

Dr Wan's presentation touched on a variety of subjects namely, the major reforms affecting employersâ€™ rights and obligations under the Regulations, the Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law, as well as the latest Guangdong Guiding Opinions on the Hearing of Labor Dispute Cases.

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Presents at Employment Contract Law Conference

jb — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:47:43 -0600

Hong Kong: On 20 Feb 2009, Dr Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment practice, led a half-day conference hosted by PEO to review and explain the implications of China's new Employment Contract Law (ECL).

Dr wan addressed the significant changes in the employment system as well as, the settlement of labor disputes brought about by the coming into effect of 3 major pieces of legislation, namely, the ECL, its Implementation Regulations and the Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law. The presentation touched on such topics as the major issues under the ECL and its Implementing Regulations, open-ended employment contracts and severance.

Dr Isabelle Wan Contributes to Lexis Nexis Expertâ€™s Blog Column.

jb — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:13:06 -0600

Dr Wan was recently invited to contribute to Lexis Nexisâ€™s International Expertâ€™s Blog Column.

Her full blog article entitled â€œå¥³å„¿æ€»æ˜¯é—®æˆ‘ï¼šå¦ˆå¦ˆï¼Œå¦‚æžœä½ é€€ä¼‘çš„è¯æœ€æƒ³åšä»€ä¹ˆâ€ can be found here. (Chinese)

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Awards First Anniversary Employment Law Scholarships at Peking University

jb — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:12:25 -0600

Beijing: On 25 February 2009, the TransAsia Employment Law Scholarship award ceremony was held at Peking University. Dr Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment practice, was proud to represent TransAsia to present the awards and deliver a speech entitled â€œCareer Planning for Legal Personnel and the Forefront of the Development of PRC Labor Lawâ€ to the students in attendance.

Dr Wan addressed legal personnelâ€™s professional ethics, as well as the requisite qualities for a good lawyer. The speech also addressed employersâ€™ strategies in the current global economic environment and lawful means for them to lay off workers. Further, through the analysis of case studies Dr Wan elaborated on the importance of employee handbooks, and introduced potential problems which may occur in the rescission or termination of employment contracts.

TransAsiaâ€™s Dr Isabelle Wan awards Scholarships at Northwestern University of Politics and Law

jb — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:09:47 -0500

Xian: 24 March 2009, Dr Isabelle Wan was proud to represent TransAsia Lawyers and present the awards to the recipients of the employment law scholarships at Northwestern University of Politics and Law.

Earlier in the day, Dr Wan also delivered a warmly received presentation to both the staff and students of the Centre for Employment Law integrating both the theory and practice of implementing Chinese employment law through the analysis of specific case studies.

TransAsia Partners Present at IOE Global Industrial Relations Network Conference

jb — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:12:17 -0500

Atlanta: TransAsia partner, Dr Isabelle Wan, and managing partner, Jesse Chang, spoke at a 2-day conference held by The Coca-Cola Company on behalf of GIRN on recent updates to Chinaâ€™s Employment Contract Law (ECL), with an emphasis on the key aspects affecting foreign enterprises.

Topics addressed during the conference included: managing the financial crisis, and US and Chinese labor laws. TransAsiaâ€™s partners specifically focused on the ongoing challenges, the lessons learned so far and possible ways forward under the ECL, detailed implementation regulations and sensitive and important issues beyond employment in China.

TAL hosts Melbourne Business School Delegation

jb — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:36:33 -0500

Beijing: The international module of the MBS EMBA is focused on developing strategic leadership to prepare students for the opportunities and challenges presented by international business. During their trip to China the students had the opportunity to absorb the real-world experiences of doing business internationally. TransAsia partners provided their expert guidance on both the theoretical and practical application of the law and its impact on business in China. Key topics addressed were the Chinese market and its foreign investment framework, real estate, bribery and employment law.

Jesse TH Chang, Isabelle IS Wan and Richard Ma introduced students to the issues that need to be considered when investing or operating in China. Drawing on their vast personal experience and select case studies the Partners highlighted and contrasted business operations in China and abroad, providing the students with a unique view of the Chinese market.

Seeking Senior Editor

jb — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:04:25 -0500

TransAsia Lawyers is looking for an experienced Junior Lawyer/ English Editor to join our Shanghai office. The successful applicant should:

possess excellent English writing and editing skills
have 2-3 years' working experience (legal editing experience would be an advantage)
be a proactive team player

For information please click here

To apply, please forward your application with full rÃ©sumÃ©, cover letter and expected salary to SHhr@TransAsiaLawyers.com

TransAsia Lawyers Re-Affirms its Alliance with TA Lawyers GKJ Tokyo

jb — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:43:17 -0500

In February 2008, TransAsia entered into an alliance with TA Lawyers GKJ Tokyo (TA Lawyers). We are proud to announce on behalf of both firms that the alliance has proven a tremendous success, and that we intend to cooperate even closer going forward.

TA Lawyers is a boutique law practice founded by senior attorneys previously with a large Japanese firm, and specializing in areas similar to those for which TransAsia is particularly well-known. In addition to providing general corporate law services, its Japanese and foreign attorneys represent leading multinationals in the areas of employment, IT, media, licensing/distribution and luxury brand IP.

As the first close partnership of its kind between a Chinese firm and a local Japanese law office, the alliance between TransAsia and TA Lawyers is unique. Through mutual referrals, pooling of resources and close communication between our respective attorneys, we are able to provide seamless legal services across China and Japan for multinational clients who have been able to benefit from our combined expertise and local capabilities in both jurisdictions.

For more information about TA Lawyers, please click here.

TransAsia Partner Conducts Workshop on China Employment Contract Law

jb — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:35:51 -0500

Singapore: With the increased interest that companies have shown in the Chinese market over the last few years, employment law is extremely important for those firms setting up or already operating in China.

Dr. Isabelle Wan was proud to conduct a workshop on the new Implementing Regulations for the Employment Contract Law (ECL) hosted by the Singapore Business Federation. The Workshop was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge on the application of the new law and addressed topics such as the proper adoption of open-ended contracts, how to properly handle termination under the ECL and the legal liabilities on severance pay.

TransAsia and Freehills Host Second Successful Conference on Chinese Investments in Australia

jb — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0500

Beijing: Following the success of the first conference in December 2007, TransAsia hosted in collaboration with Freehills and the China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association (CIODPA), "Invest in Australia - Beijing 2009" on Friday 31 July 2009. The invitation only symposium was officially endorsed by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), and was supported by the Australian government.

The conference, focused on briefing PRC companies and SOEs on the various regulatory and political issues involved with investing in Australia, as well as sharing practical experiences and success stories.

Deputy Director General of the SAFE, Mr. Sun Lujun, the Australian Trade Commissioner in Beijing, Mr. David Dukes, and other senior officials and prominent executives spoke at the event, which was attended by over 100 senior business leaders and government representatives from both countries. Delegates agreed that the conference presented a unique opportunity to observe the growing importance of Sino-Australian relations, and receive practical insight into investment in Australia.

Speakers included:

Mr. Sun Lujun, Deputy Director General - Capital Account management Department, State Administration of Foreign Exchange
Mr. David Dukes, Trade Commissioner Beijing, Austrade
Mr. Bu Kangxiang, Deputy Director - Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment, National Development and Reform Commission
Mr. Charles Brent, Commissioner to China, Invest Victoria
Mr. Xiong Yan, Chairman, China Beijing Equity Exchange
Mr. Geoff Brennan, Senior Advisor, Kreab Gavin Anderson
Mr. Ian Hutchinson, Director, Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors
Mr. Glenn Porritt, Executive Director and Head of Asia - Mergers and Acquisitions, ANZ Bank
Mr. Jonathan Bloch, Head of Natural Resources (W.Australia), ANZ Global Natural Resources
Mr. Gao Xiaoyu, Deputy General Manager, China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals Co. Ltd.
Mr. Leon Pasternak, Senior Partner â€“ Corporate, Freehills
Mr. Justin Little, Partner â€“ Energy & Resources, Freehills
Mr. Jesse T H Chang, Managing Partner, TransAsia Lawyers

Littler Hosts the 2009 Global Employer Institute

jb — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0500

On 24-25 Sep 2009 Littler hosted the second annual Global Employer Institute in Washington D.C. The conference brought together Littler shareholders and a select group of employment law attorneys from around the world to discuss and share their knowledge and experience of some of the most pressing employment law issues faced by employers today.

TransAsiaâ€™s senior partner and head of its employment law practice, Dr. Isabelle Wan and managing partner Mr. Jesse T H Chang were invited to share their opinions from a Chinese legal perspective. Dr. Wan first addressed attendees on Chinaâ€™s new Employment Contract Law (ECL), the Implementing Regulations for the ECL and Shanghaiâ€™s unique local rules; as well as the influence that these 3 sets of regulations have on multinational companies operating in China. Dr. Wan also elaborated on the enforcement of the new laws and regulations through the aid of notable case studies.

Mr. Chang delivered a presentation on the implications of the recent increase in Chinese investment abroad and its effect on the global market.

TransAsia Lawyers and Freehills Release Joint Newsletter

jb — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:21:59 -0600

TransAsia Lawyers and Freehills' are proud to announce the release of their joint newsletter "Australia Update - China Edition". Each month the newsletter will focus on the recent trends and any legislative changes affecting Australiaâ€™s energy & resources, mining, infrastructure and related sectors.

To view the newsletter please visit:

http://www.freehills.com.au/sites/chinaupdate/index.html

TransAsia Partners Participate in Asian Legal Business In-House Legal Summit

jb — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:20:51 -0600

Beijing: TransAsia Senior Partner and head of its employment law practice Dr. Isabelle Wan and Managing Partner Mr. Jesse T H Chang recently participated in the 2009 ALB In-House Legal Summit China. The Summit, now in its sixth year, brought together leading senior-level corporate counsel, business leaders and private practice lawyers to focus on the latest legal issues as identified by the top domestic and international law firms. This special one-day event also included a Managing Partners' Forum - Exploring new ways of Sino-foreign cooperation in a new world where China will play a larger role - and a panel discussion on the vital role of in-house counsel.

Dr. Wan delivered a presentation titled "Essential Employment Law Developments: Must Know for Employers" which focused on the key issues for employers following the promulgation of the Employment Contract Law and its Implementing Regulations, as well as the newly issued Implementing Measures for the PRC Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests. Through the use of practical case studies Dr. Wan addressed those often overlooked issues that potentially pose a huge risk to employers and their operations in China. Mr. Chang was invited to participate in the Managing Partners' Forum which discussed strategies for increasing Sino-foreign relations, the changing dynamics between Chinese and International firms and the difficulties faced during cooperation.

Dr. Wan Presents at HKIHRM Annual Conference & Exhibition

jb — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:46:17 -0600

Hong Kong: On November 24-25^th TransAsia senior partner, and leader of its employment law practice Dr. Isabelle Wan was invited to present at the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM)'s 29^th Annual Conference & Exhibition: WWW@Changing World, Winning Organization. Winning People. Winning Society. The conference sought to examine the strategies and best practices for building a winning organization in this ever-changing world, and to identify and pursue opportunities through strategic people management.

Dr. Wan focused on the Chinese Employment Contract Law (ECL), which has been debated extensively since it came into effect in 2008. Together with its implementing regulations and other new regulations, the ECL has presented employers and HR professionals with many challenges in the best way to manage labor issues. During her session, Dr. Wan shared her viewpoints on the following issues:

Critical changes in PRC employment law arising from the Employment Contract Law
Detailed Implementing Regulations of the ECL: Clarification or confusion?
New rules concerning the conclusion of employment contracts
How to properly handle termination under the ECL
Fatal mistake of not enacting company rules and policies
Common employment legal issues encountered by managers
Stricter rules on labor dispatching
New Annual Leave Regulations: Impact on operational costs
Notable case studies

Freehills and TransAsia Lawyers advise Indophil Resources on the recent A$545m takeover bid by Zijin Mining

jb — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:59:12 -0600

The board of Indophil Resources (ASX:IRN) yesterday recommended an A$545m takeover bid by Chinaâ€™s Zijin Mining. Indophilâ€™s key asset is its minority stake in the Tampakan copper-gold project in the southern Philippines.

Freehills worked in conjunction with TransAsia Lawyers, Philippine law firm Fortun Narvasa Salazar as well as Baker & McKenzie. The Freehills team was led by Partner John Tivey, supported by solicitor Felicity Hammond. Tivey and his team have advised on a wide range of energy and resources projects in South East Asia and Australia. The TransAsia team was led by Managing Partner Jesse Chang, supported by associates Pascal Jiang and Cindy Lu. The TransAsia team has been very active with energy and resources projects involving Chinese outbound investments.

Freehills Partner John Tivey said, â€˜It was important in this deal to understand our clientâ€™s key objectives and remain flexible in light of external economic factors. The announced deal meets Indophilâ€™s objectives and delivers excellent value to the Indophil shareholdersâ€™.

The Freehills team has assisted Indophil to weather the impact of the global financial crisis which interrupted Indophilâ€™s sale process. Freehills provided strategic legal advice in a complex sale process which commenced in 2008 and involved two attempted takeover bids and a proposed asset sale across multiple jurisdictions.

As commodities prices have risen investors are again turning their attention to mining and exploration projects. The Indophil deal reflects this trend and is also an indicator that Chinaâ€™s appetite for natural resources continues to grow.

Freehills and TransAsia Lawyers have recently advised on a number of acquisitions by Chinese entities, including the sale of various OZ Minerals mining interests to China Minmetals in which Tivey was also the lead partner.

Freehills capitalised on its strategic alliance with TransAsia Lawyers for both this transaction and the OZ Minerals sale. TransAsia Lawyers is a leading law firm licensed in the Peopleâ€™s Republic of China. Gresham Advisory Partners acted as Indophilâ€™s corporate advisor.

TransAsia Sponsors Social Insurance Table Tennis Cup

jb — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:26:37 -0600

From 1^st to 3^rd November 2008, the 2^nd National â€œSocial Insurance Cupâ€ Table Tennis Competition was held in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. During the three day event, 31 teams from social insurance institutions and departments from 29 provinces (autonomous regions and directly administered municipalities), the Yangzhou Municipality Social Insurance Center under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and a team of senior officials participated in the competition which were supported by the Social Insurance Center and hosted by the Labor and Social Security Department of Jiangsu Province and the Labor and Social Security Bureau of Yangzhou Municipality. The competition was designed to promote communication and cooperation between the various departments to create a solid foundation for the entire social insurance system.

TransAsia Lawyers was proud to be the only external sponsor of the Cup.

TransAsia Advises EA on its acquistion of Playfish

jb — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:49:03 -0600

Led by Partner, Kevin Guo, who was assisted by Helen Sunderland, Michelle Peng and Geoffrey Mullen, our firm was honored to have acted as Electronic Arts' PRC Counsel for its US$300m acquisition of Playfish (a leading creator of social network games). Please click here for the press release.

TransAsia Represents RIM in Sponsorship of Shanghai Expo

jb — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:43:25 -0500

Led by Partner, Philip Qu, who was assisted by Karen Hu and Pascal Jiang, our firm was honored to have represented Research in Motion in concluding its sponsorship agreement with the Shanghai Expo 2010 to be the official smart-phone provider of the Expo. Please click here for the press release.

Dr Isabelle Wan Conducts Seminar on the Employment Contract Law

jb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:21:44 -0600

Singapore: The new Employment Contract Law (ECL), came into effect on 1st January 2008 and is considered the most significant change in Chinese labour rules in more than a decade. The ECL set new standards for labour contracts, severance pay and employment of temporary workers. Although detailed implementing regulations to the law have been promulgated, many employers remain unclear on the changes and how they will affect their operations in China.

The half-day seminar conducted by Dr. Wan, focused on the major reforms affecting employersâ€™ rights and obligations under the newly promulgated Implementing Regulations for the ECL, as well as notable case studies pursuant to the Shanghai High Courtâ€™s Guiding Opinions on the applicability of the ECL.

Peking University: Sino-U.S. Seminar on Comparison of Social Insurance Legislation

jb — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:08:47 -0600

On 12 and 13 December 2009, Peking University, under the auspices of its Labor and Social Security Law Research Institute, hosted a Sino-U.S. seminar on the Comparison of Social Insurance Legislation. The seminar was jointly convened by Prof. Jia Junling from the Peking University Law School and Prof. Ronald Brown from the University of Hawaii Law School.

The seminar was attended by various senior government officials and labor and social security law experts and scholars from a number of leading institutions and universities, who used this platform to propose and discuss amendments to the third draft of the Social Insurance Law (currently under official deliberation).

Dr. Isabelle Wan, Senior Partner of TransAsia Lawyers, shared her views through a speech entitled The Social Insurance Rights of Employees from the Perspective of a Legal Practitioner.

Distinguished attendees included:

Mr. Zhang Mingqi - Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions
Mr. Zhang Shicheng - Vice Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee
Mr. Peng Gaojian - Vice Director of the Department of Political, Human Resources and Social Security Law of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council

Employment Contract Law - Implications and Challenges for HR Management

jb — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:21:32 -0500

Hong Kong: The Employment Contract Law (ECL) and its Implementing Regulations have presented employers and HR professionals with many challenges in the best way to manage employment contracts and labour issues. On 25 March 2010, at a seminar hosted by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resources Management Dr. Wan sought to address those issues.

In her session, Dr. Wan focused on the major reforms affecting employers' rights and obligations under the newly promulgated Implementing Regulations for the ECL, as well as notable case studies pursuant to the Shanghai High Courtâ€™s Guiding Opinions on the applicability of the ECL.

TransAsia Lawyers Establish Scholarship at Southwest University of Politics and Law

jb — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:29:10 -0600

At a ceremony held on 4 December 2009 at the Yubei Campus of the Southwest University of Politics and Law, TransAsia Lawyers was please to annouce the establishment of the "TransAsia Lawyers Legal Excellence Scholarship".

During the ceremony, which was presided over by the Director of Student Affairs Department Guo Zengqi, the vice president of the Universtiy Mr. Liu Jun, delivered a speech expressing his appreciation of the donation and emphasizing the importance of long-term cooperation between law schools and the industry to enhance legal training.

TransAsia Lawyers Managing Partner Mr. Jesse Chang and Head of the Employment Practice Dr. Wan also delivered a short presentation on working in the industry based on their own personal experiences and impressions.

Please click here for further information (Chinese).

Workshop on the PRC Employment Contract Law

jb — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:29:37 -0500

Singapore: The Implementing Regulations for the Employment Contract Law of the People's Republic of China were promulgated by the State Council on 18 September 2008. They comprise 38 provisions, interpreting and supplementing the provisions of the Employment Contract Law and have far reaching implications for the application of the law on current and future employment relationships.

During a half day workshop organized by the Singapore Business Federation, Dr. Isabelle Wan focused on the changes brought about by the Implementing Regulations, particularly in light of the newly promulgated: Beijing: New Guiding Opinion regarding the Application of the Law in Labor Dispute Cases, Guangdong: New Measures on the Implementation of the PRC Employment Promotion Law, and the New Shanghai High Court Guiding Opinions on Implementing the ECL.

TransAsia Lawyers Release 3 New Employment Law Publications

jb — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:11:36 -0500

TransAsia is pleased to announce the release of 3 new publications covering the landmark and complicated 2008 Employment Contract Law (ECL).

About the Publications

Interpretation of the Employment Contract Law of the People's Republic of China

Originally produced in Chinese by the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, this publication provides an authoritative analysis of the ECL. It interprets each aspect of the law in detail, provides in-depth insights into its underlying objectives, and helps readers to understand the effects of the law on hiring and retention. TransAsia is proud to have been invited to produce the official English translation of this important book.

Using Employment Contracts Skillfully & Reducing Labor Disputes

This ambitious treatise was written by Dr Chen Peiyong, Section Director of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council. It brings clarity to a challenging, critical topic and serves as a valuable companion in understanding the Implementing Regulations of the ECL.

The Employment Contract Law: Implementation Strategy and Risk Prevention

A critical analysis of the ECL and its Implementing Regulations, this Chinese-language guide distills the expertise of leading Chinese employment practitioners. It outlines 31 essential strategies for the resolution of common HR management problems and provides answers to some of the most frequent questions employers have about this law.

For more information or purchases, please click here to view the flyer.

Chambers and Partners Asia Awards: China 2010 - Employment Law Firm of the Year

jb — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:28:36 -0500

We are pleased to advise that our firm has been selected as the China "Employment Law Firm of the Year 2010" by Chambers and Partners for its inaugural Asia Awards: China. Described by Chambers as "occupying a well-regarded position in the field", our employment team led by Dr. Isabelle Wan is proud to have been picked ahead of 5 other Chinese firms.

Based on thousands of interviews with lawyers and clients, the awards recognize a law firm's pre-eminence in key practice areas and reflect notable achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service.

For further information about the 2010 Chambers Asia Awards: China, please click here.

"Doing Business In Australia" Guide

jb — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:25:47 -0500

At the request of our Australian alliance firm Freehills,Transasia produced the Chinese version of "Doing Business In Australia". The publication, now in its second edition, offers key insights for those considering investment opportunities and operations in Australia and provides an overview of the relevant laws, rules and practices involved in doing business in Australia. Topics covered include:

Australia's natural resources sector
banking regulation
business acquisitions
consumer protection and product liability
environmental and planning regulation
foreign investment regulation
fundraising, and
taxation.

A new chapter on Australia's natural resources sector will be of great interest for investors. The chapter reviews the diverse nature of Australia's resources, including the wide range of commercial opportunities for ventures such as exploiting minerals directly, establishing mineral processing industries and providing technical expertise, services and equipment to the industry.

In addition, important changes have taken place in industrial and employment law. A comprehensive chapter on the recently introduced Forward with Fairness reforms gives valuable insight for all wanting to set up a new business in Australia.

To view the Chinese version of the publication, please click here.
To view the English version of the publication, please click here.

TransAsia and Torys Host "Invest in Canada" Symposium

jb — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:45:44 -0500

Beijing: In collaboration with leading Canadian firm Torys and the China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association (CIODPA), TransAsia hosted a symposium entitled "Invest in Canada - Beijing 2010". The symposium was held with the official endorsement of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the support of the Canadian Embassy in China and sponsorship from Ernst & Young and Goldman Sachs.

The conference focused on informing PRC companies and SOEs of the various regulatory and political issues involved with investing in Canada. Minister Zhang Xiaoqiang (Vice Chairman of the NDRC), Minister James M. Flaherty (Canadian Minister of Finance), and other senior officials and prominent executives spoke at the event, which was attended by over 200 senior business leaders and government representatives from both countries.

In addition, the event presented a unique opportunity to observe the growing importance of Sino-Canadian relations, and provided delegates with practical insight into investment in Canada.

Speakers included:

Mr. Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice Chairman, NDRC
Mr. James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance, Canada
Mr. Fan Chunyong, Vice President & Secretary-General, China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association
Mr. Les M. Viner, Managing Partner, Torys LLP
Mr. Philip J. Brown, Co-Head of M&A Group, Torys LLP
Mr. Michael D. Amm, Partner, M&A Group, Torys LLP
Mr. Daniel A. Ford, Partner, Infrastructure Group, Torys LLP
Mr. Timothy E. Hodgson, Chief Executive Officer, Goldman Sachs Canada Inc.
Mr. Luke Gordon, Vice President, Goldman Sachs Canada Inc.
Mr. Michael L. Freeborn, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Canada Inc.
Mr. Eric C. Xiao, Partner, Canada Area Leader of China Overseas Investment Network, Ernst & Young LLP (Canada)
Ms. Linda Zhu, Partner, China Overseas Investment Network, Ernst & Young LLP (Canada)
Ms. Eleanor Wu, Partner, Transaction Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP (China)
Mr. Wang Keyong, Manager, Canada Working Group, China Development Bank
Mr. Jesse Chang, Managing Partner, TransAsia Lawyers

TransAsia Awards Employment Law Scholarships at Northwest University of Politics & Law

jb — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:28:50 -0500

Xi'an: On 26^th May 10, TransAsia partners Dr. Isabelle Wan, leader of the Employment Law practice, and Ms. Helen Li, were proud to present prizes to 20 high achieving law students at a ceremony held at the Northwest University of Politics & Law.

The scholarship aims to identify, encourage and reward academic and overall excellence by granting 1 first-place, 3 second-place, 6 third-place scholarships and 10 encouragement awards, with the ultimate objective of promoting the development of employment law.

Each year, a committee consisting of TransAsia's senior partners awards these scholarships to recipients based on academic record, good citizenship, involvement in campus organizations,English-language ability and a essay on an employment law topic of their choice. For more information about the scholarship, please click here.

TransAsia Hosts 2010 PRC Employment Law Workshop "Current Trends and Human Resource Management/Strategies"

jb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:57:36 -0500

Beijing: The recent labor strikes at the Foxconn and Honda plants have sent shockwaves throughout China. Potentially those actions will affect the operations of domestic companies and multinationals alike.

Employers in China have always found it difficult to understand and manage employment issues. However, the Foxconn and Honda incidents present for employers new challenges that have arisen over the past 2 years, including stricter regulatory requirements, labor shortages, wage increases and rising labor disputes.

Accordingly, employers now need to expend greater efforts in understanding and in complying with the PRC employment law regime. They also need to implement better systems in handling disputes with workers and crises generally.

In furtherance of this objective, our firm organized a workshop to provide a platform to address the relevant issues and discuss the most effective ways to resolve the problems.

Various senior government officials and employment experts spoke at the workshop, including:

Mr Zhang Shicheng (å¼ ä¸–è¯šå…ˆç”Ÿ), Deputy Director General of the Legislative Committee of the Standing Committee of the National Peopleâ€™s Congress (å…¨å›½äººå¤§å¸¸å§”ä¼šæ³•å·¥å§”è¡Œæ”¿æ³•å®¤å‰¯ä¸»ä»»)
Dr Chen Peiyong (é™ˆåŸ¹å‹‡åšå£«), Director of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council (ä¸åŽäººæ°‘å…±å’Œå›½å›½åŠ¡é™¢æ³•åˆ¶åŠžå…¬å®¤å¤„é•¿)
Mr Zhang Shouqi (å¼ å¯¿çªå…ˆç”Ÿ), Deputy Director General of the China Social Insurance Association (ä¸å›½ç¤¾ä¼šä¿é™©å¦ä¼šå‰¯ä¼šé•¿, æ›¾ä»»å›½å®¶ç¤¾ä¿å±€å‰¯å±€é•¿å¹¶å‚ä¸Žã€Šç¤¾ä¼šä¿é™©æ³•ã€‹ï¼ˆè‰æ¡ˆï¼‰ä¹‹åˆ¶å®š) (formerly with the State Administration of Social Insurance, where he participated in the legislative discussions on the Social Insurance Law (Draft))
Mr Guo Jun (éƒå†›å…ˆç”Ÿ), Deputy Director of the China Association of Labor Law Studiesï¼ˆä¸å›½åŠ³åŠ¨æ³•å¦ç ”ç©¶ä¼šå‰¯ä¼šé•¿), and Director General of the Democratic Management Department of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ä¸åŽå…¨å›½æ€»å·¥ä¼šæ°‘ä¸»ç®¡ç†éƒ¨éƒ¨é•¿)
Mr Zhu Deliang (æœ±å¾·è‰¯å…ˆç”Ÿ), Director of the Labor Supervision Bureau of the Guangdong Provincial Administration for Human Resources & Social Security (å¹¿ä¸œçœäººåŠ›èµ„æºå’Œç¤¾ä¼šä¿éšœåŽ… åŠ³åŠ¨ç›‘å¯Ÿå±€å±€é•¿)
Dr Isabelle Wan (ä¸‡ä»¥å¨´åšå£«), Leader of the Employment Practice, TransAsia Lawyers (æƒäºšå¾‹å¸ˆäº‹åŠ¡æ‰€ åŠ³åŠ¨æ³•ä¸šåŠ¡è´Ÿè´£äºº)

2010 Chinese Overseas Investment Fair

jb — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:37:06 -0500

The second China Overseas Investment Fair (http://www.coifair.org/2010/index_en.asp) will be held in Beijing on 2nd and 3rd November this year. It is being organized by the China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association (Association) under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC, the ministry responsible for approving outbound and inbound investments).

General Background

The Fair aims to promote overseas investment by PRC entities and to provide a platform for officials, investors and professionals to network on topics of interest. It is the largest event of its kind in China: last year it attracted more than 5,000 attendees. Over 1,000 SOEs and government agencies have been invited or have registered to attend so far; they are listed at http://www.coifair.org/aboutus_8_en.asp.

There are 3 components to the Fair:
- a general exhibition;
- fora arranged by the Association on common topics of interest relating to outbound investment; and
- seminars organized by select entities, focusing on investments in countries overseas.
For a full agenda, please visit http://www.coifair.org/2010/aboutus_7_en.asp.
Participation

Due to the close working relationship we have with the Association, TransAsia has been requested to assist in inviting select clients and friends of the firm to attend the Fair. The main options for participating, and the corresponding standard fees, can be viewed at http://www.coifair.org/2010/fee_en.asp.

If you are interested in participating in the Fair or would like further information, please feel free to contact us.

Jesse Chang Awarded Best Presentation at 2010 AMPLA Annual Conference

jb — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 04:54:55 -0500

Perth: The 2010 AMPLA Annual Conference was held from the 20 to 23 October in Perth, Western Australia. AMPLA is a not-for-profit association established in 1976 to advance the knowledge of law relating to mineral and petroleum resources. The event focused on recent developments in the Australian resources and energy sectors and covered topics including the future taxation of Australia's natural resources, challenges and priorities for Chinese organizations and price reviews.

During the 3 day conference, TransAsia's managing partner, Jesse Chang, delivered a presentation addressing the internal and regulatory approval process for PRC companies investing abroad. The presentation was awarded "Best Presentation" at the close of the event. For more information about the event, please click here.

2010 Chinese Overseas Investment Fair

jb — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:12:02 -0500

Beijing: The second annual China Overseas Investment Fair (Fair) was held on 2nd and 3rd November. The Fair is the largest event of its kind in China and aims to promote overseas investment by PRC entities as well as to provide a platform for officials, investors and professionals to network on topics of interest.

The 2010 Fair was a tremendous success. More than 1,500 Chinese enterprises participated – including 108 central SOEs. TransAsia assisted the Fair’s host, the China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association under the NDRC (Association), to organize a forum entitled “Strategic Selection of Global Allocation of Natural Resources Investment”. Speakers included officials from the China National Energy Bureau and the International Energy Agency, as well as the CEOs of Rio Tinto, Minmetals and Chinalco.

TransAsia also held an “Invest in Australia” seminar with our close alliance firm Freehills. The seminar focused on investment opportunities, regulatory and financing issues relating to Australia’s resources, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors. It was attended by over 100 SOEs delegates, government representatives and other industry players.

For more information regarding the Fair, please click here.

TransAsia Sponsors Asian Legal Business In-House Legal Summit - Beijing

jb — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:19:36 -0600

Beijing: TransAsia Senior Partner and head of its employment law practice Dr. Isabelle Wan recently participated in the 2010 ALB In-House Legal Summit China. The Summit, now in its seventh year, brought together leading senior-level corporate counsel, business leaders and private practice lawyers to focus on the latest legal issues as identified by the top domestic and international law firms.

Dr. Wan delivered a presentation entitled "Employment Disputes and Industrial Unrest: Topical and Sensitive Issues". The presentation focused on the recent rise of labor disputes in China (including collective labor actions), crisis management and strategies that can be utilized by employers to reduce the risk of labor disputes.

TransAsia was also a proud sponsor of the event.

TransAsia Sponsors Asian Legal Business In-House Legal Summit - Shanghai

jb — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 03:55:02 -0500

Shanghai: TransAsia Senior Partner and head of its employment law practice Dr. Isabelle Wan recently participated in the 2010 ALB In-House Legal Summit China. The Summit, now in its seventh year, brought together leading senior-level corporate counsel, business leaders and private practice lawyers to focus on the latest legal issues as identified by the top domestic and international law firms.

TransAsia was also a proud sponsor of the event.

Dr. Wan Conducts Workshop on Employment Disputes and Industrial Unrest

jb — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:00:57 -0600

Singapore: The string of suicides at Foxconn's Shenzhen factory and the strikes at Honda's Nanhai and Zhongshan plants in Guangdong that happened earlier this year have thrown the issue of low employee wages into the media spotlight. Under the backdrop of sharp increases in collective labor disputes this year, many cities in succession have enacted new regulations on collective wage negotiations. These incidents involving requests for wage increases and strikes highlight the tendency of employment issues to unexpectedly bring about an adverse domino effect which can rapidly spread to various employers and sectors.

During a half-day workshop organised by the Singapore Business Federation, TransAsia Senior Partner and leader of its employment law practice, Dr. Isabelle Wan, focused on the recent rise of labor disputes in China (including collective labor actions), crisis management and strategies that can be utilized by employers to reduce the risk of labor disputes.

Dr Isabelle Wan Speaks at HKIHRM 30th Annual Conference and Exhibition

jb — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:40:42 -0600

Hong Kong, December 9-10: TransAsia Senior Partner and leader of its employment law practice Dr. Isabelle Wan was invited to present at the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM)'s 30th Annual Conference & Exhibition: Championing HR Fitness for the Next Decade.

During her presentation, Dr. Wan focused on the recent rise of labor disputes in China (including collective labor actions), new collective bargaining rules, and the strategies that employers can utilize in order to reduce the risk of labor disputes arising. Specifically, her presentation discussed:

New rules on collective wage bargaining in Guangdong Province and the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone
How employers should react to the legal trends on collective wage bargaining
Understanding collective labor actions (including strikes)
New requirements for the establishment of trade unions
Internal and external crisis management mechanisms
Labor dispute resolution and case studies

TransAsia Establishes Affiliation with Littler Mendelson, P.C.

jb — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:52:29 -0600

Beijing: TransAsia Lawyers has formed an employment law affiliation with Littler Mendelson, P.C., the largest employment and labor law firm in the United States. By creating a bridge between the leading employment law firms in the world’s two largest economies, the affiliation will allow both TransAsia and Littler to provide seamless legal services in both jurisdictions. It will also boost TransAsia’s presence outside of China and enhance its ability to serve its international client base as well as Chinese overseas investors with employment-related issues for cross border transactions.

For more information on Littler Mendelson, P.C. and the affiliation, please click here.

Euronews - New China Program

jb — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:50:56 -0600

We are proud to announce the official launch of China Matters, a television series created and presented by Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn which is being broadcast on the euronews network. TransAsia has been intimately involved in conceptualizing, planning and launching this exciting project. Both Dr. Kuhn and euronews are important clients of our firm.

Please click here to view the official press release. China Matters can be viewed by tuning into euronews or by streaming online at http://www.euronews.net/news/streaming-live/.

TransAsia represents AVIC for landmark JV with GE

jb — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:57:52 -0600

TransAsia Lawyers proudly represented AVIC on the $2 billion avionics joint venture with GE as reported here. Jesse Chang, our Managing Partner, led the TransAsia team.

Dr. Wan Presents at ALB In-House Legal Summit

jb — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:53:30 -0600

Over the past year, the landscape for work stoppages/strikes in China has changed completely. Employees are much more aware of their rights, and do not hesitate to assert them in the event of any violation by their employers. Coupled with strikes elsewhere and widespread labor unrest, the events at Honda’s Guangdong plants last year have had a nation-wide domino effect, resulting in increased minimum wage standards throughout China. Specifically, Dr. Wan addressed the recent rise of collective labor actions and new regulations in Shanghai which vest employees with far greater rights and protection with respect to collective bargaining.

Chambers China Awards 2011 - TransAsia Lawyers named Employment Law Firm of the Year for second consecutive year

jb — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:14:37 -0600

TransAsia Lawyers is pleased to share with you the news that, for the second consecutive year, TransAsia has been selected as the "Law Firm of the Year" for PRC employment law in 2011 by Chambers and Partners.

For more information, please click here.

TransAsia Lawyers and Littler Host Chinese Employment Law Forum at Harvard

jb — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:43:16 -0500

USA: On 2 Nov 2011, Littler and TransAsia Lawyers hosted a forum on Chinese employment law at Harvard.

Speakers included Chinese Government Official, Mr. Zhang Shicheng — Deputy Director-General, Legislative Committee, PRC National People's Congress and Dr. Isabelle I H Wan — Leader of TransAsia Lawyers’ Employment Law Practice. The discussion was moderated by Littler’s International Practice Group Chair — Peter Susser.

Topics addressed include:

Adverse Domino Effect I: Understanding Strike and Work Stoppages
Adverse Domino Effect II: How to Handle Collective Action
The New Social Insurance Law: Impact on Employers and How It Will Affect Expatriate Employment in China
Interim Measures for Expatriates’ Social Insurance Contribution: The New Social Insurance Law Further Explained
Triggers for Labor Unrest: Working Hours and Overtime Pay
The Hidden Dangers of Inadequate Drafting: Employment Contracts and Employee Handbooks
Collective Wage Bargaining and Push for Unionization: How Will It Affect Fortune 500 Companies?
Prevention and Preparation: What Happens When an Employment Relationship Ends

“Invest in Chile – Beijing 2011” Workshop

jb — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:39:01 -0500

Beijing: In association with the Chilean Foreign Investment Committee and the Chilean Embassy in China, TransAsia Lawyers hosted a workshop entitled “Invest in Chile – Beijing 2011” aimed at providing Chinese investors practical insights when investing in Chile.

During the meeting, Mr. Matias Mori, Executive Vice-President of the Chilean Foreign Investment Committee, delivered a presentation focused on the investment climate in Chile, specifically in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors.

At the invitation-only event, over 14 senior executives of leading PRC companies and SOEs (including Metallurgical Corporation of China, China Huadian, China Minmetals, China Communications Construction Company, Shougang International, Hebei Iron & Steel Group, Jinchuan Group and Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation) indicated keen interest in investment opportunities in Chile and asked many questions of Mr. Mori and the Chilean delegates.

Key Considerations for Global Businesses Operating in China Webinar

jb — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:48:22 -0500

On May 16th from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. (GMT) or May 17th from 1:00 - 2:30 a.m. (China), Littler Mendelson, P.C., our strategic partner and the largest US labor and employment law firm, will be hosting a Cross-Border Employment Webinar on important labor and employment legal issues for multinational companies operating in China.

Dr Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment law practice, will be the featured speaker at this event. This is a valuable opportunity not to be missed for those seeking to learn more about the area.

The topics which will be covered include:

employment contracts: recent developments
severance pay: new standards
enforceability of post-employment restrictions including non-compete covenants
purpose and function of employee handbooks under PRC law
termination and expiration of employment relationship: important distinctions
dispute resolution under PRC law

Please click here for further details and registration instructions.

ChinaGoAbroad Newsletter Released

jb — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:41:23 -0500

As a natural offshoot of our legal practice, for the past 5 years, TransAsia Lawyers has assisted Chinese entities with their investments abroad. In doing so, our firm has not only developed significant experience in issues commonly associated with such activities, but has also observed an urgent and ongoing need on the part of Chinese investors for clear, readily available and authoritative information.

To meet this need, TransAsia Lawyers is pleased to announce the release of the inaugural issue of the ChinaGoAbroad Newsletter. The newsletter is dedicated to recent trends and changes which are specifically relevant to Chinese investors undertaking projects overseas. Future editions will also feature information regarding investment opportunities, training, events and more. We are privileged to have 12 of the world’s leading law firms contributing practical and topical articles as of this inaugural issue. For a list of those firms, please see the list below.

Stay tuned for the launch of our website, ChinaGoAbroad.com!

With the support of key governmental agencies, professional intermediary institutions, international project companies, international industrial associations, leading law firms, leading accounting and tax firms, and other partners, this "one-stop shop" for outbound investment is committed to providing exclusive, up-to-date and authoritative content about every aspect of outbound investment from China,including:

Actual, up-to-date investment opportunities;
Training services relevant to Chinese companies investing abroad;
Information about, and professional service providers for, background checks and due diligence; and
Key aspects on overseas employment, visa and immigration matters.

To begin with, the website will be targeted at government agencies, over 400 key state-owned enterprises, private entities and private individuals from China; and potential investment targets, industry associations, government agencies and service providers overseas.

Participating law firms:

Bell Gully (New Zealand)
Bowman Gilfilan (South Africa)
Freehills (Australia)
Gessel (Poland)
Grasty Quintana Majilis & Cia (Chile_
Greenwoods & Freehills (Australia – Tax)
Milbank (U.S.A.)
TA Lawyers (Japan)
Torys LLP (Canada)
Veirano Advogados (Brazil)
Weitnauer (Germany)
Wenger & Vieli (Switzerland)

TransAsia becomes Patron Member of CASBAA

jb — Sun, 08 May 2011 21:42:20 -0500

TransAsia is pleased to announce that it has been invited to join CASBAA as a Patron Member and will take a seat on the Council of Governors, CASBAA's leading advisory group.

CASBAA is the Association for digital multichannel television, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across Asia. The mission of CASBAA is to promote the growth of pay TV and video content through industry information, networking exchanges and events while promoting global best practices. CASBAA members enjoy the benefits of maintaining corporate interests, networking within the industries, and access to exclusive industry data. More importantly, CASBAA forms a coalition that represents the cable and satellite industry as a whole and strives to market and promote broadcasting achievements and continued growth. For further information, please visit www.casbaa.com.

Dr. Wan to Present at “Duelling with Dragons” – Managing Business Disputes in Today’s China Conference

jb — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:49:24 -0500

New York City: On 20 September 2011, Dr. Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment law practice, will participate in Juris Conferences' “Duelling with Dragons” – Managing Business Disputes in Today’s China conference. For more information about the event, please click here.

TransAsia Sponsors ALB In-House Legal Summit

jb — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:47:17 -0500

Shanghai: TransAsia is pleased to Sponsor the 7th annual Asian Legal Business In-House Summit. The event is tailored to bring together leading senior-level corporate counsel, business leaders and private practice lawyers and represents a unique opportunity to interact with some of the most active and influential lawyers from Mainland China, Asia and the rest of the world.

During the event, Dr. Wan addressed the recent rise of collective labor actions and new regulations in Shanghai which vest employees with far greater rights and protection with respect to collective bargaining.

Dr. Wan Presents at Key Media Employment Law Congress 2011

jb — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:17:04 -0500

Singapore: On the 28th and 29th June, Key Media hosted a congressing addressing employment law issues in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

During the event, Dr. Wan delivered a presentation titled "Employment Issues and Legislative Changes in China" which addressed a number of key issues under Chinese law, including:

Conclusion, performance, termination and expiration of employment contracts
Fatal mistake in failing to enact company rules and policies
Understanding collective labor actions (including strikes)
How employers should react to the legal trends on collective wage bargaining
New requirements for the establishment of trade unions
How to properly handle termination under the law
Internal and external crisis management mechanisms
Labor dispute resolution

PRC Employment Law Workshop – Legal Update on Social Insurance Law, Collective Wage Bargaining and Trade Unions (Singapore)

jb — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:24:02 -0500

Singapore: On 2 August, Dr. Isabelle Wan conducted a workshop hosted by the Singapore Business Federation. The event focused on several new regulations and the likely impact they will have on employers, as well as current events.

On 28 October 2010, at the 17^th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11^th National People's Congress, the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China (Social Insurance Law) was adopted. This new law will come into effect as of 1 July 2011. As the first ever legislation on the Chinese national social insurance system, it will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the development and improvement of the system. In particular, this law places emphasis on enforcement and supervision by the relevant authorities, and thus places the onus on employers to comply. For instance, under Article 63, a series of powers are granted to social insurance agencies, and under paragraph 1 of Article 82, it is expressly specified that any organization or individual has the right to report or lodge a complaint against acts violating social insurance laws and regulations.

In addition, the string of suicides at Foxconn's Shenzhen factory and the strikes at Honda's Nanhai and Zhongshan plants in Guangdong last year have attracted much media attention and thrown the issue of low employee wages into the spotlight. Labor unrest and strikes brought about primarily by demands for wage increases highlight the tendency of employment issues to cause an adverse domino effect. Confrontations between employers and employees on a number of issues ranging from wages and benefits to overtime pay have been growing rapidly. In response, both the central and local governments have enacted new regulations to promote the establishment of trade unions and enhance collective wage bargaining. In this connection, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions aims for at least 80% of all enterprises in China to be actively engaging in collective bargaining by 2013 (with a specific focus on Fortune 500 companies).

Dr. Wan also focused on the recent rise of collective labor actions in China and introduce new regulations enacted in Shanghai (taking effect on 1 May 2011), which vest employees with far greater rights and protection with respect to collective bargaining.

TransAsia Awarded 2012 PRC TMT Law Firm of the Year by Chambers & Partners

jb — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:52:11 -0600

We are pleased to announce that TransAsia has been selected as the "2012 PRC Law Firm of the Year" for TMT (technology, media, telecoms) law by Chambers and Partners.

TransAsia Launches ChinaGoAbroad.com

jb — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:29:36 -0600

TransAsia Lawyers, recently launched a unique online platform ChinaGoAbroad (www.ChinaGoAbroad.com). The site is dedicated to the exchange of information about outbound investment from China and features actual investment opportunities, practical guidelines to doing business in foreign jurisdictions, and access to leading service providers and governmental agencies. For more information, please vist the site.

TransAsia Lawyers and Littler Host Chinese Employment Law Forum at Santa Clara University

jb — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:47:03 -0600

USA: On 8 Nov 2011, Littler and TransAsia Lawyers hosted a forum on Chinese employment law at Santa Clara University

Topics addressed include:

Adverse Domino Effect I: Understanding Strike and Work Stoppages
Adverse Domino Effect II: How to Handle Collective Action
The New Social Insurance Law: Impact on Employers and How It Will Affect Expatriate Employment in China
Interim Measures for Expatriates’ Social Insurance Contribution: The New Social Insurance Law Further Explained
Triggers for Labor Unrest: Working Hours and Overtime Pay
The Hidden Dangers of Inadequate Drafting: Employment Contracts and Employee Handbooks
Collective Wage Bargaining and Push for Unionization: How Will It Affect Fortune 500 Companies?
Prevention and Preparation: What Happens When an Employment Relationship Ends

3rd Annual Chinese Overseas Investment Fair

jb — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:09:51 -0600

Beijing: The 3^rd annual China Overseas Investment Fair (Fair) was held on 8^th and 9^th November. The Fair is the largest event of its kind in China and aims to promote overseas investment by PRC entities as well as to provide a platform for officials, investors and professionals to network regarding outbound investments from China. More than 1,100 Chinese enterprises and governmental agencies attended the Fair.

TransAsia assisted the Fair’s host, the China Industrial Overseas Development and Planning Association under the NDRC (Association), to organize a forum entitled “Investing in Australian and Canadian Listed Companies: A New Path for Resources/Property Acquisitions in Africa”. Speakers included:

Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, Minister for Resources and Energy; Minister for Tourism of Australi
Hon Dr Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment of Nigeria
Hon John S Dawkins AO, Director of GRA Asia; Former Senior Minister of Finance & Trade of Australia
Guo Lian, President of the Shanghai branch of China Development Bank
Egizio Bianchin, Vice Chair and the Global Co-Head of BMO Capital Markets
Laura Wu, Ernst & Young
Andrew Choy, Ernst & Young
John Tivey, partner, Freehills International Lawyers
Justin Little, partner, Freehills International Lawyers
Gemey Visscher, partner, Freehills International Lawyers
Michael Amm, partner, Torys LLP
Philip Brown, partner, Torys LLP
Ron Deyholos, partner, Torys LLP

The seminar focused on investments into Africa via ASX and TSX listed companies, key aspects of M&A transactions involving African assets, regulatory and legal issues, and tax considerations relating to investments in Australia. It was attended by over 100 SOEs delegates, government representatives and other industry players.

In addition to hosting the sub-forum, TransAsia also launched a unique online platform ChinaGoAbroad (www.ChinaGoAbroad.com). The site is dedicated to the exchange of information about outbound investment from China and features actual investment opportunities, practical guidelines to doing business in foreign jurisdictions, and access to leading service providers and governmental agencies.

For more information regarding the Fair, please click here.

TransAsia Voted “PRC Team of the Year 2011 for Labor & Employment”

my — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:36:27 -0500

We are please to announce that TransAsia has been voted as “PRC Team of the Year 2011 for Labor & Employment” by China Law & Practice. TransAsia had previously been selected as Chambers & Partners “Law Firm of the Year” for PRC Employment Law. Our employment team, led by Dr. Isabelle Wan, would like to thank our clients for their continued support without which we could not have received this recognition.

TransAsia Represents Youku in Merger with Tudou

my — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:25:34 -0600

Youku and Tudou, the two largest online video content providers in China, signed a definitive agreement to a 100% stock-for-stock merger. The resulting company, which will be known as Youku Tudou Inc., will continue to be listed on the NYSE under Youku’s ticket symbol, YOKU.

The merger brings together 2 of the top 15 most visited websites in China to create the first true market leader in China’s fragmented online video sector, with a nearly 35% market share. The newly formed company “will represent a differentiated leader in the online video market in China with the largest user base, most comprehensive content library, most advanced bandwidth infrastructure and strongest monetization capability within the sector,” said Youku Chairman and CEO Victor Koo. The merger is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.

TransAsia Lawyers represented Youku through the negotiation process. The team was led by Phillip Qu, who was supported by Justina Zhang, Karen Hu, Brendan Wu, Cathy Zhang, Jack Zhu and Carrie Nie.

TransAsia represents Pearson in its $294m Acquisition of Leading PRC Education Services Company

my — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:39:46 -0600

Pearson, a global media and education company headquartered in London, signed a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Global Education & Technology Group Limited (GEDU) for $294 million. GEDU is a leading provider of educational courses and test preparation in China for English language assessments. The merger, which needs final approval by the GEDU board, is expected to close by the end of the year, and will give Pearson a significant customer base and developed infrastructure to expand its educational offerings in China.

TransAsia, led by the Beijing Office Managing Partner Philip Qu, served as PRC counsel to Pearson for this transaction.

TransAsia Serves as PRC Counsel on Recent IPOs

my — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:41:57 -0600

Between December 2010 and June 2011, we served as Company Counsel to 2 of the 4 largest NYSE IPOs by Chinese Internet companies. Specifically, we represented Youkou on its US$233m float and Renren on its US$855m listing. Philip Qu, Managing Partner of our Beijing office, led the TransAsia team for both of the transactions.

Between 2010 and August 2011, TransAsia was ranked second among all PRC law firms based on the total value of the NYSE IPOs which it represented. To view the full rankings from the China Business Law Journal, click here