China Practice

Doing business in China requires an understanding of the complex, ever-changing business environment and knowledge of the culture that drives it. Perkins Coie is a pioneer in developing relationships with China. Our experience goes back more than three decades to 1971, when we participated in one of the earliest commercial transactions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China—the sale of 10 Boeing commercial aircrafts. Since then, we have helped numerous international clients with their business activities in China, as well as Chinese companies with their transactions in the United States.

The firm’s mature team of bicultural specialists has advised clients on hundreds of transactions involving a wide variety of PRC industry sectors. For example, during the past few years, the firm has also promoted intellectual property protection awareness and education by working with central and local government (e.g., the China National Center for Biotechnology Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Shanghai Pudong municipal government, the Dalian municipal government, and the Shenzhen municipal government). As a result of these efforts, the firm has recently added an office in Shanghai to focus on providing intellectual property services. The office is located in Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park and is staffed with China-born, U.S.-trained returnees and fully backed by IP attorneys from Perkins’ U.S. offices.

Our experience with both Chinese and U.S. companies on China-related matters includes:

• Intellectual property: We have assisted with patent procurement in the United States and China and have handled international patent portfolio management and development for U.S. and Chinese companies. We have also handled patent due diligence analysis for U.S. and Chinese companies interested in entering the U.S. and the Chinese markets as well as for investors (both Chinese and U.S) seeking to invest in or acquire Chinese or U.S. companies and technology. We have handled patent litigation matters in the United States for Chinese and U.S. companies, and have supervised enforcement of Chinese intellectual property, including patents and trade secrets, in China. Clients such as Accelergy, Shanghai Huayi, Shanghai Wison Bioengineering, Beijing Shenogen and Changsha Lyrun Material Corp. have turned to us to assist with matters such as intellectual property portfolio management, patent due diligence and international patent procurement.
• Business matters: We have advised clients on hundreds of transactions involving a wide variety of PRC industry sectors. We work closely with the central and local governments and maintain regular contact with PRC officials in order to remain current on policy changes.
• Personal planning: We have assisted U.S. citizens residing in Asia or owning assets in Asia, as well as non-U.S. citizens with assets or beneficiaries in the United States, with personal planning issues such as estate planning, asset protection, planning for incapacity, appointing guardians for minor children and purchasing Asian assets.

With China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, we are committed to leveraging our legal experience in the global business community and enhancing our ability to assist our Chinese clients with their business needs and expansion goals in the United States and other countries.