We caught up with Mr. Mingde Wu, Managing Partner of AllBright Law Offices to find out more about the firm and what makes them 2017’s best law firm. g Best Full-Service Law Firm & M&A Lawyer of the Year 2017 - Shanghai China Business Awards 2017 China Business awards 2017 Ansiderac Best for Biomedical Engineering in China 2017 – Ji Nan university Also in this issue:
2 APAC / China Business Awards 2017 Editor’s Note , Welcome to the 2017 China Business Awards China’s strong trading links places it in a powerful position in the global economy, giving businesses a strength and resilience that is envied across all sectors and industries. Its economic freedom is regularly ranked as one of the highest in the world, and this is thanks to the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the businesses that thrive there. The APAC Insider China Business Awards 2017 seek out the very best firms, departments, individuals and initiatives to celebrate their performance over the past twelve months. K
Contents , K 4. AllBright Law Offices - Best Full-Service Law Firm & M&A Lawyer of the year 2017 - Shanghai 8. Ji Lang University - Best for Biomedical Engineering Education & Research China 9. Greencarrier - Best Global Rail Service Provider 2017 10. Ilse Of Man Goverment - Best Centre for Foreign Business Development 11. V-Trust - Most Trusted Inspections Company 2017 *
4 APAC / China Business Awards 2017 , Best Full-Service Law Firm & M&A Lawyer of the Year 2017 - Shanghai AllBright Law Offices is one of the leading full-service law firms in the People’s Republic of China. We spoke to Mr. Mingde Wu (Managing Partner) to find out more about the firm and the secrets behind its success so far. As a national law firm headquartered in Shanghai, AllBright provide a comprehensive range of high quality legal services to both domestic and international clients from its eighteen offices, respectively in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanchang, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Xi’an, Xiamen, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong. While size is only one of many indicators of the success and resourcefulness of a law firm, being the largest law firm based in Shanghai (and in the whole Eastern China region), AllBright certainly lead in this respect among our peers. Mr. Wu discusses the firm’s dominance of the market and how it has come to achieve this thanks to its dedicated staff. “Here at AllBright we have over 1600 registered lawyers (including more than 400 partners and senior consultants). Aside from our regular working language of Chinese (Mandarin and major dialects), many of our lawyers are also fluent in CN170001 English, Japanese, French, German, Korean and other major languages, and many are also admitted in international jurisdictions. Our partners and senior consultants came to the firm with diverse professional and personal backgrounds. Many transactional lawyers have practiced for years in top international law firms and/ or in leading multinational companies. A number of our litigators once were judges and prosecutors, and many are active arbitrators. We also have access to a strong network of former government officials and legislators. Supported by a large team of translators and legal assistants, our professionals have undertaken many complex and high profile transactions, and have won many landmark cases. “Alongside their work with us, our lawyers have played critical roles in advising the government on, and actually drafting, many of the core Chinese laws and regulations involved in our daily practices today, and have been involved in drafting several international treaties concerning international investment, trade and other forms of economic cooperation. Our practitioners possess a wealth of first-hand experience and legal expertise in providing effective solutions to the most complex of legal issues regarding the application of laws and regulations, governmental approval and legal procedures.” These staff work with a vast array of clients from across the corporate landscape and around the world, as Mr. Wu explains. “Aside from our traditional strength of servicing large domestic Chinese powerhouses such as large private or public domestic companies and central and local State owned enterprises, we also have international clients that come to us from all over the world. We regularly provide legal services to Fortune 500 companies and reputable multinational companies, including foreign invested enterprises incorporated in China, international and local financial institutions and investment funds. “In addition, we provide a comprehensive geographical coverage of the PRC through our eighteen offices in China. Moreover, we recently set up a joint venture law firm with Hong Kong based law firm Stevenson, Wong & Co. at the Qianhai modern service industry cooperation zone in Shenzhen. “Through our Hong Kong office, we have access to the INTERLAW network, an international association of which has been favourably reviewed by Chambers & Partners and other ranking agencies. Our individual partners also work closely with partners in major international law firms or boutique law firms in many jurisdictions for crossborder or multi-jurisdictional matters.” One of the key areas that the firm works in is dispute resolution, and Mr. Wu is keen to outline the range of services the company offers in this area. “As a major PRC firm, we have a history of strength in court litigations. Over the years we have expanded and transformed that traditional strength into a first class capability to represent our clients in all types of dispute resolution procedures, in China and abroad. Through our national presence and international referral network, we have built an unparalleled dispute resolution
Best Full-Service Law Firm & M&A Lawyer of the Year 2017 - Shanghai g
6 APAC / China Business Awards 2017 , CN170001 practice. We handle all forms of civil, administrative and criminal litigations, arbitrations, and alternative dispute resolutions. We also assist Chinese clients in coordination of litigations in international jurisdictions, or conduct arbitrations in international tribunals. We also assist multinational clients in enforcing their foreign arbitral awards in China. “Of course, we also demonstrate track records of successfully assisting clients in handle matters that are just brewing into disputes – we ensure that our clients maximize their positions, while helping the parties find solutions without resorting to formal dispute resolution measures.” International trade is another space in which the firm has built up a strong reputation, as Mr. Wu discusses. “In the international trade space, we enjoy particularly high regard in the very specialized area of anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguard investigations and other trade remedy measures. We have a large team of specialist professionals devoted to providing a full range of services to exporters and producers to defend their interests and rights in such matters. We have also developed a well-established worldwide specialist network of leading law firms specializing in international trade law with whom we have cultivated long term working relationships. “Though our work we have represented companies and government entities in numerous antidumping and countervailing proceedings in those jurisdictions. We work intensively with companies to ensure their ongoing legal compliance, and help them prepare for upcoming administrative reviews and potential anti-dumping investigations. We have a long and successful track record of enabling our clients to maintain or expand their shares and presence in various markets in the world. Our award-winning international trade practice has prevailed in a very large number of cases – including quite a number of landmark first in their kind wins - involving anti-dumping regulations not just in China, but also in other major jurisdictions such as the European Union, the United States, India, and the World Trade Organization. “Additionally, we also cover other international trade related matters, such as technical barriers to trade; GSP treatment; rules of origin; agricultural policy; sanitary and phytosanitary inspection; market access; quota system for textile trade within the MFA and ATC framework; market disruption; and safeguard measures.” Moving forward, Mr. Wu foresees great opportunity for the firm as it seeks to grow and build upon its current, market leading success. “Overall, by bringing together top professionals from diverse backgrounds and efficiently utilizing our extensive local resources, we strive to add value by providing a cost-effective and world-class service experience for each client and in every assignment. “The past year has been success for AllBright. Facing international and domestic severe economic situation and in response to the central authorities to adapt to the new normal economy, we adhere to the development path of “large scale, specialization, branding, internationalization, information” in the efforts of all our colleagues. The new Hefei, Zhengzhou, Fuzhou and Nanchang branches have been set up and the annual business revenues has broken through RMB 1.8 billion. It is particularly gratifying that we have made initial achievements on information construction this year by the full application of AllBright IMS system and office365 system. “Looking to the future, we will continue to be a national leader in the fields of securities and capital markets, financial trusts and asset management, WTO and international trade, litigation and arbitration etc. we also have achieved new development in the fields of Corporate Restructuring M & A, Structured Finance and Asset Securitization, Aviation & Maritime, Foreign Investment, Intellectual Property, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Construction & Real Estate, Compliance, Utilities, Energy & Environment, Culture Industry, Labor Law, Capital Housekeeping, etc. Meanwhile we maintain a good momentum of development in the fields of free trade area.”
K Contact Details Company: AllBright Law Offices Contact Email: [email protected] Address: 11, 12/F, Shanghai Tower, No.501, Yincheng Middle Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 200120, China Phone: 0086 21-20511696 Website: www.allbrightlaw.com/en Best Full-Service Law Firm & M&A Lawyer of the Year 2017 - Shanghai g
8 APAC / China Business Awards 2017 , CN170002 Best for Biomedical Engineering Education & Research - China Ji Nan University is one of the 211 key universities in China and its Institute of Biomedical Engineering was the first Institute of Biomedical Engineering in China and established in 1984. We invited Department Founder Yao-Xiong Huang to tell us more. On the basis of the university’s award winning Institute of Biomedical Engineering, a department of Biomedical Engineering was also established in 2000 and it was one of the earliest departments of Biomedical Engineering in China. Since then, it has constructed a completed Talents Training System for the education of Biomedical Engineering at all levels from undergraduate study to Master and Doctorate program, and turned out over 690 graduates, among them, 259 were doctorate and master graduates. Yao-Xiong Huang, the founder of the department, is also the vice president of Chinese Society for Medical Physics, the Honorary President of Guang Dong Society for Biomedical Engineering and Guang Dong Society for Biophysics. He discusses the department’s role and the innovations it has supported over the years. “In research, the BME faculties have a variety of backgrounds and interdisciplinary research areas at the intersection of medicine, science and engineering. We are focused on developing medical and home care devices and materials for disease treatment/diagnosis and healthcare, and biomedical instruments for basic research. We have created new innovative medical and rehabilitation devices and materials and healthcare technologies for therapy and rehabilitation. We have significant expertise in wearable home care products and technologies using low intensity laser, infrared light, and electromagnetic field for disease treatments and personal care, to help aged people and those have medical problems or other healthrelated conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives. We provided intelligent digital 3D imaging techniques for vision/ accommodation training and rehabilitate of aged people or children, to overcome and/or delay some of the disabilities imposed by the aging eye, such as presbyopia, reduced near visual acuity, reduced contrast sensitivity, and slower processing speed. “Additionally, we also have developed biomaterials for tissue engineering such as bioactive artificial cornea and artificial bone. Our main areas of interest at present are: the development of new techniques and bioinstruments to measure what is happening in the body/tissue/ cell and to diagnose and treat disease; biomaterials and tissue engineering; the techniques to perform non-invasive, in situ and real time measurements on the structure and functions of biological cells/molecules and tissues; manipulating and transfecting cells using optical tweezers and scissors; the interactions of physical factors such as laser light, radio electromagnetic waves and ultrasound with biological tissues; artificial intelligent apparatus and devices for disease treatment and rehabilitation. “Over the years, the department has developed strong ties to not only the local biomedical device industry in Guang Dong Province, but also that in Hong Kong and south China area. We serve the biomedical engineering community of the area and play a significant pivotal role of connecting link between the laboratory research and biomedical device industry. The ongoing vision for the department is to conduct pioneering highimpact research to produce new knowledge from laboratories and facilitate the transfer of that knowledge into biomedical and clinical applications at the fastest pace possible.” Looking ahead, the department will be looking to build upon its current success and grow even further. Company: Ji Nan University Contact: Yao-Xiong Huang Contact Email: [email protected] Website: www.jnu.edu.cn
, Greencarrier Freight Services have offices in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and China with a dedicated team of almost 600 employees. Today, the Greencarrier Group is characterised by values such as humour and joy, commitment and involvement as well as the idea of working closely with customers in order to offer a truly excellent service and peace of mind. The firm’s full portfolio of services is offered at all times in order to be able to serve and support the whole supply chain from order to end delivery. Sea freight, Air freight and Road freight are the most common transport modes, but over the past years Greencarrier Freight Services have developed the Rail services to and from China and Europe. What truly sets the firm apart is its dedication to client service, as Johan emphasises. “What sets Greencarrier Freight Services apart is that customers really feel that we are working hard to find better sustainable transport solutions in order to minimize the emission effects on the environment, but also the efficiency in our customers supply chains. When a customer does business with us they will meet people that are involved, Contact: Johan Ignell Contact Email: [email protected] Address: Greencarrier Freight Services International AB, 40522 Göteborg, P.O Box 1037, Sweden Phone: 0046 708850075 CN170003 Best Global Rail Service Provider 2017 Greencarrier Freight Services is one of Nordic region’s largest privately own transportation companies with Nordic and Baltics countries as home market. Johan Ignell discusses the firm’s offering and how it works to provide the very highest standards of service and support to its valued clients. committed and also have humour and joy in the mid all the time. Doing business with Greencarrier Freight Services shall be easy, professional and also fun and since we´re a privately owned company we also have very easy to adjust to market needs when needed because decision makers are always near you.” Operating globally, the firm has a strong overview of the world market, as well as the space that China operates in, as Johan outlines. “Greencarrier Freight Services are mainly focusing on our home market which is Nordics and the Baltic countries together with China. China is still a huge producer of gods used in Northern European, but also more and more gods are imported to China from Northern Europe. Having established our own offices since 2007 in China makes us a great partner for our customers both in China and our home market. We have the knowledge and experience to make sure our customers supply chains runs smoothly. “The world economy is changing very fast, but China is changing even faster which makes it easier for us within Greencarrier Freight Services to adjust to the market demands since we are being established with our own staff and offices. “One-BeltOne-Road” initiative is a perfect example where Greencarrier Freight Services managed to roll out their rail service faster than competition to Northern Europe and Baltics and main reason is that they were established in China.” Looking to the future, growth and further expansion are the firm’s core focuses, as Johan proudly concludes. “Overall, at Greencarrier Freight Services we are dedicated to live up to our core values and vision and mission, to challenge the market with new and eco-friendly transportation possibilities. One part of this is to further develop our Green Smart Solution such as Rail freight and Short Sea transportation in Europe. We want to become the no 1 rail service provider in our home market and are excited for the opportunities this will bring us.”
10 APAC / China Business Awards 2017 , Contact: Steven Beevers Contact Email: [email protected] Address: Department of Economic Development, 1st Floor, St George’s Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas, IM1 1EX, Isle of Man Phone: 01624 686400 Web Address: www.whereyoucan.im and www.whereyoucan.im/china CN170004 Best Centre for Foreign Business Development The Isle of Man Department of Economic Development promotes the Isle of Man around the world as a business and investment location. Steven Beevers talks us through the organisation’s work in China and how this supports its overall focus. The Isle of Man Department of Economic Development works with clients around the world to support them as they look to move into this dynamic region. Isle of Man is located in the center of the British Isles, close to Europe, is recognized as an international business center. The region can provide an environment for both individuals and businesses to make their full potential, free development, and prosperity. As well as having its own specific investment opportunities, the Isle of Man is also well positioned to facilitate business and investment into the UK and into the EU. Steven outlines the benefits that the region has for Chinese investors seeking to move into the Isle of Man’s vibrant business space. “The Isle of Man has created a unique niche for itself with special trade and other links with the UK and Europe enabling it to operate as a gateway to these markets while also offering an incentivised location for business. Additionally, the professional and international services and experience developed in government and industry over the past 30 years mark it out as an established centre of excellence for customer service and international business solutions. “China is recognised as our number one overseas market for sourcing of new business opportunities and foreign investment. As such, having representation in China and the accessibility of those persons in the same time zone and language is key to ensuring we become known better and to providing the standards of excellent customer service we wish to provide and which our customers expect. This translates to a competitive advantage for our region. “In the same way that Singapore has established itself as a major international business centre in the East (and both the Isle of Man and Singapore have a similar land mass), the Isle of Man has a mission to establish itself as a leading small international business centre in the West. The Isle of Man already has over 30 years of continued economic growth, 20 economic subsectors, a GDP per capita ranking 7th in the world (per World Bank) and with low tax policies and a strong package of government and commercial funding offerings, has created an optimum support environment for business to establish, innovate and have the freedom to flourish.” “Overall, the Isle of Man still has a job to do in promoting greater awareness in China and is therefore pleased to be recognised in the Chinese Business awards in order to further its profile and awareness as a unique centre for international business and as a gateway to the West. Steven concludes by discussing the developments his firm will make in order to continue to promote the region and support new investors and businesses in their move to the Isle. “As we look towards the future, the Department and indeed our government is constantly looking to review and improve our services and innovate with new product offerings, media materials and creation of an environment conducive to business. Recent innovations include a new ICT University, new Enterprise development Fund of £50m, new Locate Website, and new regulatory regimes for international banks and crowdfunding.”
, Contact: Grace Wong Email: [email protected] [email protected] Address: 1107-1109 West Tower, Poly World Trade Centre, 1000 Xingang Road E., Guangzhou, 510335, China Phone: 0086 20 89089938 ext. 830 Website: www.v-trust.com CN170005 Most Trusted Inspection Company 2017 V-Trust is a fully accredited and qualified inspection services provider, registered in China, Hong Kong, India, and Vietnam. Grace Wong tells us more. Founded in 2003, V-Trust’s main goal is to help overseas buyers rest assured that their products purchased in Asia are of the high quality they deserve. Through its product inspections, container loading supervision, sample checking, lab testing, and certification services, each month the firm helps over 2300 buyers from around the world. Grace tells us more about the firm’s service offering and how it works to ensure that clients receive the very highest standard of service. “V-Trust offers the highest standard of quality control at very competitive prices. Our inspection network and services are constantly developing and continuously improving. While some other inspection companies focus only on business and try to cut corners by hiring unreliable part-time inspectors, we always place our attention on the quality of our services. “Therefore, we have only fulltime, reliable inspectors who are held to a high standard by our screening process and training program. Each new inspector is college educated and has at least 2 years’ experience in inspections or production. An additional mandatory 2-week training course at our head office and 3 months on-site training ensures they are equipped with the skills needed. Strict control measures, such as our Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct letter, performance audits, period rotation, and others are used to make sure all inspectors follow in line with our company’s ethical standards. “Fundamentally, our motto, “Helping buyers sleep better!” is a big promise to fulfill, and something we strive for each and every day. In fact, this phrase is the first thing you see as you walk into our head office in Guangzhou, serving as a constant reminder of the pledge we have made. Clients from around the world put faith in us to serve as their eyes and ears in Asia. This is a heavy responsibility, so we must work hard around the clock to ensure buyers feel assured that their shipments are in good hands.” Being based in China offers V-Trust the chance to be at the centre of the manufacturing market, as Grace explains. “With our head office located in Guangzhou (Canton), one of the most prosperous trading cities in China, it gives great access to world trade and keeps us “in the loop”. Looking to the future, there are many great opportunities in this ever evolving industry which Grace is keen to highlight in her concluding comments. “As the world trade market is always evolving, we must evolve with it. Competition in markets all over the world is getting stronger and stronger, so the demand for high quality products is also increasing. One major trend in the quality control sector is to not only find problems with the production results, but also search for the root of the problem. Quality control services are now being introduced at all stages of the production line to hold manufacturers to a high standard throughout the whole process, from the very first prototype to the production of the last finished product, and even further along to proper handling of goods when getting loaded onto shipping containers. “Therefore, V-Trust is always trying to innovate to stay ahead of the curve. We hope to design new services and practices to suit the needs of our clients. Whether it is through introducing a new kind of inspection service, creating new functions for our online platform, or expanding our inspection network to new areas, we want to be sure that all the needs of every client can be met effectively and efficiently. Even in just the past few years, we have stationed full-time inspectors in more regions of inland China as well as the major manufacturing regions of India and Vietnam.”
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