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 13:36:07 -0600

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 12:56:02 -0600

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 Zhengfa University 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 07:43:30 -0600

The new big-budget Hollywood film, 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 07:49:18 -0600

Istanbul: 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 Wan and Jesse Chang 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 multinationals
ECL detailed implementing rules: deliberation status
Contracts: conclusion, performance, renewal, termination and expiration
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 07:00:10 -0700

Hong Kong: 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 Guo 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 07:03:17 -0700

Beijing: TransAsia partners Jesse Chang and Isabelle Wan 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 07:03:59 -0700

Beijing: 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 07:15:54 -0700

Singapore: 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 07:17:35 -0700

Beijing: Isabelle Wan 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 07:19:46 -0700

Beijing: Isabelle Wan 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 07:20:29 -0700

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, Ferrari, Folli Follie, Charmonde Luxury and Alfred Dunhill.

In support of this Summit, Jesse Chang, with assistance from 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 - clear and effective methods of dealing with regulators and consumers
- Internal - close liaison between HQ and local China management, as well as briefing of local employees
- Advisors - 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 08:22:08 -0600

Shanghai: TransAsia presented the winners of the 2007 TransAsia Students of Legal Excellence Scholarship 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 08:23:49 -0600

Singapore: TransAsia co-sponsored this event, with 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 08:24:34 -0600

Singapore: Key Media invited 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 08:25:23 -0600

Beijing: 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. 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 08:26:55 -0600

Beijing: In an exclusive training session for senior management and HR executives of a world- leading Fortune 500 company with operations across China, Isabelle Wan 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 08:27:34 -0600

Shanghai: Isabelle Wan 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 08:29:20 -0600

Shanghai: Isabelle Wan 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 08:34:24 -0600

Guangzhou: In an exclusive workshop for senior management and HR executives from one of the world's largest confectionary producers with operations across China, Isabelle Wan 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 08:39:16 -0600

Hong Kong: As TransAsia was a key sponsor of the event, Isabelle Wan 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 08:40:11 -0600

Singapore: Isabelle Wan 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 08:41:12 -0600

Guangzhou: Isabelle Wan 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 08:41:49 -0600

Singapore: Isabelle Wan 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 08:42:34 -0600

Beijing: 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, National People's Congress, Deputy Director of the Legislative Committee
全国人大常委会法工委行政法室张世诚副主任
Dr Chen Peiyong, State Council, Director, Labor and Social Security Department
国务院法制办劳动保障法制司陈培勇处长
Mr Yan Baoqing, MOLSS, Director-General, Legal Affairs Department
劳动保障部法制司闫宝卿司长
Mme Wang Rui, MOLSS, Deputy Director-General
劳动保障部王瑞副司长
Mr Rui Lixin, MOLSS, Deputy Director-General, Legal Affairs Department
劳动保障部法制司芮立新副司长
Mr Zhang Shouqi, State Administration for Social Security, Deputy Director-General
国家社会保险事业管理局张寿琪副局长

TransAsia Partner Addresses the 1st International Forum on the Content Industry & Intellectual Property (CIIP)

admin — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:03:44 -0600

Shanghai: 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 12:30:11 -0600

Beijing: 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. 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 12:30:49 -0600

Beijing: 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). Jesse Chang and 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 12:31:41 -0600

Beijing: High-ranking Chinese government officials and international industry leaders joined TransAsia in celebrating the publication of China's Media & Entertainment Law (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 11:40:31 -0700

Shanghai: Jesse Chang was invited by 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 11:42:15 -0700

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 11:43:34 -0700

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 11:45:26 -0700

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 12:47:02 -0600

Singapore: 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. 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 12:54:33 -0600

Singapore: Isabelle Wan 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 13:03:48 -0600

Bangkok: Isabelle Wan 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 13:05:22 -0600

Beijing: TransAsia Partners Jesse Chang and Isabelle Wan 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 13:06:46 -0600

Beijing: 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 13:07:27 -0600

Beijing: TransAsia Partners Jesse Chang and Isabelle Wan 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 13:08:32 -0600

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 12:09:20 -0700

Singapore: Isabelle Wan 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 12:09:55 -0700

Singapore: The conference, organized by Business Information Asia, comprised a panel of expert speakers who were invited to address critical HR issues in China. 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 12:13:27 -0700

Singapore: Isabelle Wan 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 12:14:20 -0700

Beijing: Isabelle Wan 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 12:14:57 -0700

Beijing: Jesse Chang 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 13:16:32 -0600

Beijing: TransAsia recently announced the winners of the 2005 TransAsia Students of Legal Excellence 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 13:17:38 -0600

Shanghai: 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. Isabelle Wan 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 13:18:36 -0600

Shanghai: Isabelle Wan 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 13:19:59 -0600

Lisbon: 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 19th to 21st 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 Wan and Jesse Chang 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 13:22:05 -0600

Shanghai: 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 Wan 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 12:22:50 -0700

Singapore: 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 Wan 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 12:23:36 -0700

Shanghai: 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. Isabelle Wan 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 12:24:25 -0700

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

In addition, Isabelle Wan and 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 book China Labor & Social Security Law - Essential Facts Explained (CCH 1998).

Conference on Employment Contracts in China

admin — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 12:25:02 -0700

Hong Kong: Key Media 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 Wan 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 13:25:40 -0600

Beijing: At the invitation of the Beijing Municipal Informatization Office, Isabelle Wan participated in the second round of discussions of the draft version of the 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 13:26:32 -0600

Paris: The European CSR Supply Chain Practices Conference, co-hosted by Intertek and 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, Isabelle Wan 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 13:30:48 -0600

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 13:32:13 -0600

Hong Kong: In an exclusive training session for senior management and HR executives of one of the world's largest construction groups with operations across China, 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 13:34:59 -0600

Qingdao: 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 draft 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 13:35:48 -0600

New York: "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 by Jesse Chang);
Practical Concerns Arising from the Implementation of the PRC Labor Law (presented by Isabelle Wan); and
Essential Questions for Non-Compete Agreements (presented by 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 13:36:55 -0600

Beijing: At the invitation of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, Isabelle Wan participated in discussions on the draft PRC Electronic Signature Law. Isabelle also contributed to the deliberation on the draft Rules for the Construction and Promotion of Informatization of the Beijing Municipality and the Measures for the Administration of Exchanges of Information Among Government Agencies of Beijing Municipality (Trial) 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 12:37:42 -0700

Singapore: Jesse Chang 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 12:39:46 -0700

New York: Isabelle Wan presented "Protecting Employers' Legal Rights: Practical Issues" at the Intertek 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 12:40:25 -0700

Beijing: At the invitation of the Beijing Municipal Informatization Office, Isabelle Wan represented TransAsia in roundtable discussions on the drafting of the 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 12:41:01 -0700

Shanghai: 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, 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, Isabelle Wan).

China HRM Keynote Address by TransAsia

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2003 13:41:45 -0600

Singapore: 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 13:42:33 -0600

Hong Kong: 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, and 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, 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 13:43:07 -0600

Shanghai: 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. Isabelle Wan 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 13:44:00 -0600

Shanghai: Isabelle Wan was invited to present an exclusive seminar on employment law in China, organized by 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 13:44:50 -0600

Amsterdam: Isabelle Wan 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 13:45:28 -0600

Beijing: International industry leaders joined TransAsia in celebrating the publication of China's IT & Telecoms Legislation (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 Industry (Telecommunications Administration Bureau).

China Labor & Social Security Law Forum

admin — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 12:46:52 -0700

Shanghai: 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 12:48:14 -0700

Beijing & Hong Kong: 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 00:40:21 -0600

Singapore: Dr Isabelle Wan spoke at a seminar entitled “Updates on China’s New Employment Contract Law.” 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 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:55:06 -0700

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.

In support of this year’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 02:05:16 -0600

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 02:18:59 -0600

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

Dr Wan began the workshop with a speech entitled “The Employment Contract Law Implementing Regulations”, 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 06:32:53 -0600

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 06:37:26 -0600

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 People’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 06:40:55 -0600

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 “Introduction to the Draft Detailed Implementing Regulations of the PRC Employment Contract Law”. 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 00:18:55 -0700

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 China’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 Plays Key Role in Publication of China’s Laws & Regulations on Radio, Film and Television

manager — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:16:18 -0700

Beijing: China’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.

Not unlike our own publications, China’s IT & Telecoms Legislation and China’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 firm’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 firm’s dedication to supporting the study and development of PRC media law.

TransAsia's Dr Isabelle Wan Leads Employment Contract Law Workshop

jb — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:01:44 -0700

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 employers’ 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 18:47:43 -0700

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 Expert’s Blog Column.

jb — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:13:06 -0700

Dr Wan was recently invited to contribute to Lexis Nexis’s International Expert’s Blog Column.

Her full blog article entitled “女儿总是问我：妈妈，如果你退休的话最想做什么” can be found here. (Chinese)

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

jb — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:12:25 -0700

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 “Career Planning for Legal Personnel and the Forefront of the Development of PRC Labor Law” to the students in attendance.

Dr Wan addressed legal personnel’s professional ethics, as well as the requisite qualities for a good lawyer. The speech also addressed employers’ 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.

TransAsia’s Dr Isabelle Wan awards Scholarships at Northwestern University of Politics and Law

jb — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:09:47 -0600

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 22:12:17 -0600

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 China’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. TransAsia’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 03:36:33 -0600

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 21:04:25 -0600

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 résumé, cover letter and expected salary to SHhr@TransAsiaLawyers.com

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

jb — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:43:17 -0600

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 20:35:51 -0600

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 00:00:00 -0600

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 – Corporate, Freehills
Mr. Justin Little, Partner – Energy & Resources, Freehills
Mr. Jesse T H Chang, Managing Partner, TransAsia Lawyers

Littler hosts the 2009 Global Employer Institute

jb — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0600

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.

TransAsia’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 China’s new Employment Contract Law (ECL), the Implementing Regulations for the ECL and Shanghai’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 21:21:59 -0700

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 Australia’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 00:20:51 -0700

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 04:46:17 -0700

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 00:59:12 -0700

The board of Indophil Resources (ASX:IRN) yesterday recommended an A$545m takeover bid by China’s Zijin Mining. Indophil’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, ‘It was important in this deal to understand our client’s key objectives and remain flexible in light of external economic factors. The announced deal meets Indophil’s objectives and delivers excellent value to the Indophil shareholders’.

The Freehills team has assisted Indophil to weather the impact of the global financial crisis which interrupted Indophil’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 China’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 People’s Republic of China. Gresham Advisory Partners acted as Indophil’s corporate advisor.

TransAsia Sponsors Social Insurance Table Tennis Cup

jb — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:26:37 -0700

From 1^st to 3^rd November 2008, the 2^nd National “Social Insurance Cup” 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 00:49:03 -0700

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's Dr Isabelle Wan Lectures at Peking University

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:20:01 -0700

Beijing: On 10 Dec 2008, Dr Isabelle Wan, leader of TransAsia's employment practice, delivered a lecture entitled “Labor Dispute Resolution during the Economic Crisis” to the students of Peking University.

Dr Wan addressed employers’ 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).