Date: January 30, 2008
Contact: Kelly Griffith, Marketing Manager
Phone:
(612) 492-7514
Email: kgriffith@fredlaw.com
For Immediate Release
Fredrikson & Byron Opens New Office in Shanghai, China
and Announces Two New Attorneys
Minneapolis, MN January 30, 2008 – – Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. announces the opening of its office in Shanghai, the hub of China’s industrial technology and home to its largest commercial and financial center. The office serves both U.S. clients doing business in China, as well as Chinese clients doing business in the United States. Click here to view photos from Fredrikson & Byron’s Chinese New Year Celebration.
Ruilin Li, a Fredrikson & Byron shareholder, is the firm’s Chief Representative for the China office. Li has practiced law in both China and the United States and is fluent in both languages. Her cross-cultural experiences and knowledge of the law in both countries makes her a valuable asset to clients seeking to expand their operations.
“I provide legal and cultural perspectives obtained from practicing law in both China and the United States,” says Li, “and we offer our clients a unique combination of resources and expertise that give businesses an edge in their US-Chinese operations.”
Li is joined by two new firm lawyers based in China: Brinton Scott, a U.S. lawyer with more than 10 years of experience as a foreign legal expert in China, and Zhan “Jerry” Liu, a Chinese and U.S. licensed attorney. Scott, a shareholder, heads Fredrikson & Byron’s Shanghai office. He has 10 years of legal experience in China, advising clients in M&A (including Chinese merger controls), IP, technology licensing, and foreign direct investment in China, as well as more than 10 years’ experience as a foreign legal expert in China, including three years in Beijing. Scott has worked with clients in a broad range of industries including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, publishing, automotive, and entertainment. He is fluent in both Mandarin and English.
Zhan “Jerry” Liu is an associate in Fredrikson & Byron’s China office. Liu works on international mergers and acquisitions, Greenfield projects, joint ventures, and other general corporate matters. He has experience working on large-scaled assets and equity acquisition deals with multinational interests. Liu is admitted to practice law in China and in the U.S., and is fluent in Mandarin and English.
Fredrikson & Byron provides a range of services to serve its U.S. clients who have business dealings in China. The firm assists businesses in all aspects of setting up Chinese operations including: establishing joint ventures, subsidiaries, or representative offices; negotiating contracts; facilitating agreements; and locating business partners (buyers, sellers, suppliers). In addition, its services include support in tax issues (import/export, duties, etc.), real estate transactions, immigration, employment matters, and intellectual property issues (including patents, trademarks, and licensing). The firm can also provide guidance in dispute management, reviewing all court documents and facilitating arguments, sourcing private investigators to assist in investigations, and, when necessary, finding local counsel in China.
Fredrikson & Byron offers its Chinese clients guidance on issues related to doing business in the United States. For example, it can assist in setting up business operations in the United States, real estate or land acquisition, drafting and negotiating contracts, purchasing assets or stock of U.S. companies, financing (through private offering or IPO), securing licensing agreements, employment issues (contracts, non-competes, union negotiations, training, etc.), immigration, dispute resolution, and intellectual property strategy.
“Fredrikson & Byron’s office in Shanghai strengthens our commitment to serving our clients’ expanding needs in China,” said John Koneck, President of Fredrikson & Byron. “Brinton Scott brings practical, hands-on experience in China to help us establish our presence in Shanghai. Our clients will benefit from our experience and connections in China.”
Fredrikson & Byron maintains a strong relationship with the Minnesota Trade Office, which works actively with the Minnesota state government to secure ties with Chinese businesses. The firm has worked with Trade Office personnel on Minnesota’s trade missions to China, traveling with the Governor and his team and presenting seminars for both U.S. and Chinese businesses on expanding operations internationally. Governor Pawlenty provided support in expediting Fredrikson’s application for the Shanghai office through the approval process with the Chinese Ministry of Justice.
“The Minnesota-China Partnership is developing strategic alliances that are helping to expand the market for Minnesota goods and services. Fredrikson & Byron’s new office in Shanghai demonstrates their commitment to those efforts,” Governor Pawlenty said.
Fredrikson also maintains close ties with the highly-respected University of Minnesota China Center, an institute that promotes research and cultural collaborations between the United States and China. Fredrikson & Byron’s relationships with these highly-regarded organizations provide the firm with additional resources and contacts for both its U.S. and Chinese clients.
Fredrikson & Byron Shanghai Office FAQ
6F 4, Aurora Plaza
99 Fucheng Road
Pudong Shanghai 200120
China
Main: +86.21.3852.5100
Fax: +86.21.3887.0988
Email: gsayad@fredlaw.com
About Fredrikson & Byron, P.A
Fredrikson & Byron is a 225-plus attorney law firm based in Minneapolis, with offices in Bismarck, Des Moines, London, Monterrey, Mexico, and Shanghai. The firm’s primary areas of practice include banking, corporate, employment, franchise, government relations, healthcare, intellectual property, international, litigation, real estate, securities, tax and energy. We serve a broad range of clients, including multinational corporations, public companies, privately-held businesses, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and family businesses. Fredrikson & Byron’s attorneys also work with individuals on estate planning, family law, and immigration matters. We are the exclusive Minnesota law firm member of the World Services Group, a worldwide network of professional service providers. More information about the firm is available at www.fredlaw.com.