Dan Harris is a founding member of Harris Sliwoski, an international law firm where he mostly represents companies doing business in emerging market countries. Most of his time is spent helping American and European companies navigate foreign countries by working with the international lawyers at his firm in setting up companies overseas (WFOEs, Subsidiaries, Rep Offices and Joint Ventures), drafting international contracts, protecting IP, and overseeing M&A transactions.
In addition, Dan writes and speaks extensively on international law, with a focus on protecting foreign businesses in their overseas operations. He is also a prolific and widely-followed blogger, writing as the co-author of the award-winning China Law Blog.
Paying Chinese Companies for Product that Never Arrives Two to three times a week, my law firm will get a query from a company that paid for Chinese product and received absolutely nothing. The below is a good example of what we just keep getting. This is an e-mail (modified to hide any possible identifiers)
Enforcing U.S. Judgments in China This post delves into recent developments that have transformed enforcing US monetary judgments in China. From Ambiguity to Reciprocity: A Turning Point Before 2018, enforcing US judgments in China relied heavily on the principle of reciprocity enshrined within Chinese domestic law. The problem? Reciprocity lacked a clear definition, leading to
The Frustrating Reality of International Manufacturing Disputes (and How to Avoid Them) Hardly a week goes by at my law firm where one of our international litigation lawyers does not get a call or an e-mail from a company exploring its options for pursuing its overseas manufacturer (usually based in China, but not always) for a
China’s Business Landscape: Cautionary Tales and Key Strategies It is crucial to understand the unique risks and requirements for doing business in or with China. This post explores real-world China scenarios faced by foreign companies, highlighting the importance of due diligence to mitigate risks and ensure success. China’s Growing Risks China presents unique challenges for
China NNN Agreements are Absolutely Necessary When your company does business with a Chinese company there is always a risk that your Chinese partner will use information you give it to compete against you. See It’s Perfectly Legal for Your Chinese Manufacturer to Copy Your Products. To prevent this scenario, a China Non-Disclosure, Non-Use, Non-Circumvention
Manufacturing Risks in China vs. Mexico: A Comprehensive Analysis When weighing where to manufacture your products, comparing risks between locations is crucial. China and Mexico both offer advantages, but a deeper analysis reveals clear differences. In this post, I delve into the risks associated with manufacturing in China and Mexico, two of the world’s most
International Joint Ventures An international joint venture can provide a pathway to new markets, shared innovation, and the distribution of risks and resources. Yet, the allure of these global partnerships is matched by the complexity of their execution, where success hinges not merely on the alignment of business strategies but, more fundamentally, on the compatibility
Why a Trip to Your Overseas Factory is the Secret Weapon You Didn’t Know You Had Imagine shaking hands with the person who crafts your product, touring the bustling factory floor, and uncovering hidden opportunities for innovation. This isn’t a scene from a dream; it’s the reality of visiting your overseas manufacturer. For many businesses,
China Manufacturing Problems are Increasing Imagine investing millions of dollars into a product launch, only to receive defective or unusable goods from your Chinese manufacturer – a scenario that could cripple your business. Unfortunately, this nightmare is increasingly becoming a reality for many companies that rely on China manufacturing, without proper safeguards. The increasingly tense
Foreign Language Contracts are Key I must have told clients at least a hundred times in my career that “foreign language contracts are key.” In this post, I explain why I so often say this and why this is the case. The Complexity of Language in Legal Contexts One of the things I often do
