China Practice

Perkins Coie is a pioneer in cross-border legal matters between the United States and China.  Our attorneys understand China’s complex, ever-changing business environment and the culture that drives it.  Our experience dates back to 1971, when we participated in the sale of 10 Boeing commercial aircraft, one of the earliest commercial transactions between the United States and China.  Since then, we have helped various U.S. companies, trade associations, institutions, organizations and governmental agencies with their transactions and intellectual property needs in China as well as Chinese companies with their transactions and intellectual property needs in the U.S.

Intellectual Property

Perkins Coie is a recognized leading international intellectual property firm in the U.S. and China.  The firm has a history of promoting intellectual property protection awareness and education by working with the central government, local governments and hi-tech parks.  Since 2003, Perkins Coie has assisted the China delegation with their presence and affiliated events surrounding the annual BIO convention; welcoming a wide range of government officials, entrepreneurs and clients to the seminal convention for the biotechnology industry.  

Our intellectual property attorneys have a long history of assisting clients in China with their patent procurement, international patent portfolio management, patent due diligence analysis and patent and trade litigations.  Our intellectual property attorneys and agents in Beijing and Shanghai can assist both Chinese and U.S. companies in obtaining and enforcing their intellectual property assets in a variety of disciplines including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications and industrial chemistry and manufacturing. 

China Corporate Practice & International Trade

Our China corporate practice consists of attorneys in our Beijing and Shanghai offices with decades of China corporate practice experience, as well as experienced attorneys throughout our 16 offices across the U.S.  Our team has assisted clients in a broad range of  industries including energy, banking and finance, aviation, shipping, transportation, information technology and communications, infrastructure, automotive, insurance, manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceutical, engineering, real estate, sports, food, import and export and other industries in China. 

We assist clients with the issues that foreign companies face when doing business in China.  These issues include choosing joint venture partners, designing corporate and financial structures, establishing wholly foreign-owned enterprises and joint ventures, planning taxation strategies and profit repatriating, handling employment and environmental protection.  In addition, our attorneys are able to assist with issues in corporate compliance and governance, mergers and acquisitions, financing, securities, technology transfers, equipment standard certifications, trade, governmental affairs and regulatory issues. 

Our international trade attorneys have a deep understanding of the laws that apply to the issues of market access, customs, product inspection, duty preferences, country-specific export controls, quotas and duty assessments under WTO and unfair trade remedy provisions.

Personal Planning

Our Personal Planning group helps individuals define and meet their estate planning, family and related needs.  We work with Americans and foreign nationals residing in the US and Asia on all aspects of wealth planning through strategic use of wills, trusts, gifts, sales and other income and wealth transfer devices.  For many of our clients who are successful entrepreneurs, the planning mitigates their tax exposure and offers the opportunity to plan for business succession.  In cooperation with our colleagues in our business and immigration groups, we assist clients who are interested in securing US green cards for their families through the investor program.  Our attorneys also advise clients on the ever-changing tax filing and reporting obligations and compliance issues.

The probate and trust administration of our clients' estates facilitate the implementation of their overall estate planning.  Through Perkins Coie Trust Company LLC, we can provide services as Executor and Trustee.  Our attorneys also represent fiduciaries and beneficiaries in estate and trust administration, and if disputes arise, we seek to resolve them through alternative dispute resolution.  Occasionally, when the needs arises or when a private resolution is not possible, we represent our clients' interests in court.

Working With Authorities

We work closely with the central and local governments and maintain regular contact with Chinese officials in order to stay current on policy changes.  We are committed to leveraging our legal experience and influence in the Chinese and global business communities and enhancing our ability to assist our clients with their business needs and expansion goals in China and beyond.