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.
Factory Visits Help Build Strong Relationships and Ensure Product Quality Your choice of a foreign manufacturer and the relationship you build with it are critical in determining your product quality. Visiting the factory where your products are made—or appointing a trusted delegate to do so — goes a long way in improving your odds of
China Factory Prices are Falling: How to Get Yours The Plight of Chinese Factories In China’s tumbling prices push some exporters to the brink, Reuters News wrote about something the international manufacturing lawyers at my law firm have been seeing for quite some time now. Desperate Chinese factories are lowering their prices, and most Chinese
All glory is fleeting. — George S. Patton Jr. Had an interesting conversation with a client the other day. To protect identities, I am going to change a few unimportant facts and be somewhat vague, but here goes. The Unpredictability of Government-Dependent Business This company is in an industry very much related to government. By
Urgent Compliance Alert for Foreign-Invested Enterprises in China Attention all foreign investors in China! A recently passed mandate from the Chinese government demands immediate action to update your corporate governance structure and documents. Whether you’re a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) or part of a Chinese Joint Venture Entity, adhering to China’s revised PRC Company Law
Securing and Maintaining China Trademark Registrations We constantly stress the importance of securing trademark registrations in China. But upon seeing an email from one of our international IP attorneys to a client, it occurred to me that we have not written about what companies should do after they secure their China trademark(s). So here goes,
The Shift in Global Manufacturing Contracts Tensions between China and the West have prompted US and European companies to diversify their supply chains and to re-examine their manufacturing contracts. Companies that manufactured their products in China under single contract systems are now adapting to work with factories worldwide. Previously focused on a single country, these
China Manufacturing Risks Are at Level 11 Making products in China is much more complex than it was five years ago, due to these factors: 1. The U.S. tariffs have profoundly impacted companies that ship products from China to the United States or make products in China. Many of my law firm’s clients will not
Changing Your China Company Legal Representative With so many foreign companies looking to close down their Chinese entities (almost always a WFOE) and leave the country, my law firm’s China lawyers are having to deal with a lot of WFOEs whose legal representatives are no longer with the foreign company. These companies need their legal
The Rise of China Distribution Agreements My law firm’s China lawyers have recently seen an uptick in China distribution agreements for foreign companies seeking to sell their products and services in China. This surge is driven by growing concerns over the risks that come with having a foreign presence in China, including geopolitical tensions, and
Key Legal Considerations for Doing Business in China Foreign companies doing business in or even with China face a complex legal landscape. Navigating these regulations can be challenging, but it is crucial for ensuring compliance and avoiding legal trouble. This blog post provides an overview of key legal considerations for foreign companies operating in or
