The Hunton & Williams LLP China practice, headquartered in Beijing, has been part of the firm's integrated global and Asia-Pacific practice since 1995. The clients we serve in this practice area include Fortune 500 corporations; Asian corporations and government utilities; multinational agencies; and energy, water and natural resource corporate enterprises.
The firm has extensive experience in most China-related practice areas. Our Greater China Practice Group consists of lawyers with backgrounds in the English, US and PRC legal traditions, all of whom have recent and relevant experience advising international and local entities active in China and in world markets. From project finance to WTO issues and antidumping, M&A to litigation and arbitration, energy, banking, natural resources, telecommunications, intellectual property, environmental, and health and safety, the breadth of our practice has served numerous types of clients. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with practical commercial experience and a 'one-stop shop' of quality international legal advice and China consulting services tailored to our clients' requirements. Our multi-jurisdictional services to clients include representing US and European companies doing business in Greater China; advising Southeast Asian companies investing in China; and guiding Chinese companies in regional and international business, trade and regulatory issues and handling international business disputes. The full resources and experience of our Asia practice, and of the firm as a whole, is consolidated on work relating to China.
Tapping A Global Network
Hunton & Williams provides invaluable access to the capitals of the global economy: Washington, New York, Brussels, Beijing and London. Our presence in leading financial and business centres in the United States, Europe and Asia, supported by technology that seamlessly integrates our capabilities across all offices and disciplines, allows us to apply our global experience to our clients' needs.
The following are among the varied practice areas in which the Greater China Practice Group has particular experience:
Infrastructure and Project Finance
Our infrastructure and project finance practice is keenly attuned to market developments and has achieved significant recognition on numerous project financings in Asia. We have the depth of experience to structure projects in China and all Asian jurisdictions.
Our lawyers are experienced in tailoring documentation and regulatory strategies to address project risk in Asian infrastructure projects for our clients. We have experience in multi-sourced project financings and structured finance transactions in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia. We represent sponsors and equity investors with their strategic expansion in the infrastructure sector in China.
Our lawyers are particularly involved in the development and financing of major power, oil and gas, water and mining facilities and related M&A transactions. Internationally, our experience includes the complete range of project and infrastructure financing from rail and road projects to stadiums, hotel and other construction financing (including entertainment and theme parks) through to telecommunications and desalination projects to mining and other energy-related ventures.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Foreign Direct Investment
Hunton & Williams has a major M&A practice and extensive experience with Chinese transactions. Our lawyers advise multinational companies on the creation of cooperative and equity joint ventures, on the setting up of foreign investment enterprises (including representative offices), the setting up of trading companies in China, and on liaison with PRC state-owned enterprises and other domestic enterprises. Our Chinese M&A transaction experience includes acquisitions of both state-owned and private Chinese companies.
We have diversified experience in Greater China-related foreign direct investment transactions, covering industries such as chemicals; power; mining; metal products; pharmaceutical; petrochemical; paper and packaging; consumables; food; rubber; medicine; security service; internet service; technology; computer hardware and software; media; technology start-ups; real estate and infrastructure.
International Business Expansion
With our vast network of lawyers, Hunton & Williams is able to assist in the establishment of companies or subsidiary operations in jurisdictions around the world. Whether directly or in conjunction with local lawyers, we can advise on all aspects of establishing a business from the initial advice on the most appropriate corporate structure through to employment and immigration advice and tax advice. We can assist with negotiation and drafting of agreements in English and Chinese.
Patents and Intellectual Property
Hunton & Williams is well versed in the practice of patent and other intellectual property law. We have more than 50 patent professionals and 90 intellectual property lawyers, many of whom have industrial experience and advanced scientific or engineering degrees at both the masters and doctorate levels.
Our capabilities include the full range of patent and intellectual property issues from advising on the establishment and administration of corporate intellectual property programs through patent litigation, Section 337 disputes, licensing and other transactional work. Our capabilities also include intellectual property audits, due diligence investigations and the unique US practice area of patent interferences. Our industry reach and experience covers the Internet; information technology; telecommunications; computer software; electronics; semiconductors; polyolefin catalysts and polymers; organic and inorganic chemicals; petroleum processing and the life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and microbiology. Our lawyers have technical qualifications and industry experience relating to the fields in which they practice patent or intellectual property law.
International Arbitration, Litigation & Mediation
Hunton & Williams has a highly respected dispute resolution practice skilled in both international commercial litigation and arbitration, tailored to meet commercial objectives and culture. We have lawyers who are accredited mediators who can assist in the cost-effective and speedy resolution of a matter. We represent foreign entities and individuals in litigation in both England and the United States and regularly manage cases before courts of other jurisdictions. Our lawyers also have experience in international disputes involving governmental entities, including representations of governmental entities themselves and of private sector parties involved in disputes with governments. In addition, we draft favorable dispute resolution clauses in commercial contracts.
We represent clients in arbitrations before the following institutions: International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in both London and Paris; the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA); International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Washington; London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA); China International Economic Trade and Arbitration Commission (CIETAC); Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Geneva (CCIG); the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC); and the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Moreover, one of our partners, a former Virginia Supreme Court Justice, is a member of the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport (Court of Arbitration for Sport).
Centered in multiple international offices, including Washington, New York, London and Atlanta, our team has in-depth experience in solving complex legal issues unique to cross border disputes and litigation involving multinational parties, including the service of proceedings, taking of evidence and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitration awards. Certain of our lawyers are fluent in Mandarin and work closely with local Chinese lawyers both in China and outside China on various issues and projects.
World Trade Organisation
With China's accession to the World Trade Organisation, companies must mitigate emergent risks to commercial transactions and understand the complex and constantly changing regulatory structure.
Antidumping
As Chinese companies become more successful in exporting their products to the United States, the European Union and other major markets, they face investigations of unfair international trade practices such as dumping. Hunton & Williams offers Chinese companies an experienced team to assist Chinese and other international companies in responding to trade investigations in the United States, Latin America and Asia. The team includes former US Department of Commerce investigators and US Trade Representative (USTR) officials who bring valuable insight to our international clients, and can offer assistance directly from our Beijing office (coordinated closely with our US offices) in the management of antidumping cases.
Regulatory Assistance; Environmental, Health & Safety
Hunton & Williams has a major regulatory practice group. Our regulatory lawyers in the United States and Europe are internationally experienced in regulatory issues. We have broad experience representing clients in regulated industries and advising on product, trade, environmental, and health and safety regulations. We can assist companies to comply with regulations applying to establish, operate and close manufacturing plants, and to design, manufacture and market a wide range of products to promote smooth market entry. Our extensive experience is available to Chinese exporters and outbound investors to allow them to take advantage of opportunities around the world, as well as to companies investing in or importing to China.
Data Protection
A growing number of multinational businesses have expressed increasing interest in emerging data protection and information privacy and security legal regimes in East Asia. Acting in conjunction with its Centre for Information Policy Leadership, Hunton & Williams offers coverage of the emerging data protection laws of China (in addition to other Asian jurisdictions, including Japan and Korea). Resources from the firm's cutting-edge data protection practice, resident in its Washington, New York, Brussels and other offices, combine with our Beijing office to provide analysis and intelligence on this new and dramatically fast-growing sector of international business law.
Outbound Investment and Outbound Economic Activities
Hunton & Williams' reach spans the globe, whether by means of our overseas offices, or through a vast network of leading law firms with which we work in the world's most significant jurisdictions.
The firm's reach extends beyond Asia, the United States and Europe to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Hunton & Williams has a very large and experienced Latin America practice. Our lawyers are fluent in the regional languages of Spanish and Portuguese and are capable of advising in most areas of law that a Chinese company is likely to encounter in its economic dealings in Latin America, such as distribution agreements and energy and infrastructure projects. In the Middle East, our experience ranges from water desalination to natural resources and international boundary disputes among sovereigns. In Africa, our experience extends from electricity sector restructuring and utility privatization to oil and natural gas investments to the resolution of asset recovery and the financing of mining projects.
