Introduction

Gentry is an international transactional attorney who also has a background in both general commercial and civil litigation. He co-chairs the China Practice Group. He represents multinational Fortune 500 companies, public and private companies, and government agencies. He primarily advises clients on the array of business issues they face while conducting business in China including government relations, mergers & acquisitions, FCPA/compliance issues, employment, intellectual property, real estate, antitrust, maritime, trade and regulatory matters, and investment strategies. Gentry has assisted clients throughout Asia, including Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Gentry’s industry experience includes clients in the manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, energy, insurance, and agricultural industries and he has represented private equity firms in relation to investments and transactions around Asia. He also has experience representing clients in the gaming and telecommunications industries and has extensive experience representing not-for-profit entities and educational institutions.

Gentry’s practice combines business and legal counseling and advice. His litigation and government relations background includes advising non-Chinese companies regarding dispute resolution in China as well as advising Chinese companies regarding U.S. litigation. Gentry also served as the Director of the State of Missouri Department of Economic Development China Trade and Investment Office. 

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, J.D., 1991, National Moot Court Team
• Kenyon College, B.A., Political Science, 1986

Bar Admissions

• Missouri (1994)

Practice Areas

• China Practice, Co-Chair
• International
• Litigation
• Real Estate
• Corporate
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act & Anti-Corruption
• Commercial Law

Languages

• French
• Mandarin Chinese

Representative Experience

Transactional Experience

• Represented a client in the acquisition of a majority interest of a Taiwanese-owned Chinese manufacturing company with related assets/ownership in Mauritius and the British Virgin Islands and ultimately established new manufacturing facilities for a resulting entity in Vietnam.
• Represented large U.S. manufacturer in energy sector in the formation of new entities, joint ventures, and acquisitions in China.
• Represented U.S. manufacturer of animal feed additives in establishment of Chinese and off-shore entities.
• Represented a major U.S. private equity/investment firm relating to the acquisition of a software company in India.
• Assisted global automotive parts conglomerate in establishment and operation of numerous wholly-owned subsidiaries and Joint Venture operations in China.
• Assisted automotive manufacturer in set-up of new entity with Greenfield manufacturing facility and negotiated construction, project management and design agreements relating to construction of facilities.

Corporate Structures and Strategic Advice Experience

• Advised a multinational Fortune 500 Company about its strategy to expand in China and other parts of Asia as part of a year-long strategic overhaul and review of its Asia strategy, including advice on existing manufacturing operations, potential mergers and acquisitions, industry competition, customer concerns and branding.
• Assisted the State of Missouri and businesses from Missouri in trade and investment advice and served as the Director of the State of Missouri Department of Economic Development China Trade & Investment Office.
• Advised a large manufacturer of agricultural products in relation to importation and labeling of GMO and non-GMO products into China and reversing a Shanghai customs determination that the client’s products all required obligatory GMO labeling.
• Provided multi-national agribusiness company and related entities, with a comprehensive introduction and strategic program relating to all aspects of agribusiness in China.  Provided and arranged tours and research concerning the industry and organized meetings and briefings with U.S. and Chinese government officials, American-owned Chinese subsidiaries, Chinese government-owned and privately-owned enterprises, and U.S. and Chinese-based industry specialists.
• Advised a Fortune 500 Company’s Chinese subsidiaries on issues relating to the formation of labor unions in China and China’s employment laws.

FCPA and Compliance Training and Investigation Experience

• Conducted full investigation of FCPA and compliance issues for U.S.-based Fortune 100 company in China, 2011.
• Conducted FCPA training presentation for large U.S. manufacturer of industrial equipment for the solar industry, Shanghai, China, February 2011.
• Conducted FCPA and antitrust training for large U.S.-based insurance and benefit administrative company, Xinxian, China, March 2011.
• Conducted a training presentation for a US-based corporate headquarters in Shanghai, China “Antibribery and Compliance in China: The FCPA and China’s Antibribery Laws,” Shanghai, China, May 2010.
• Conducted antitrust compliance training for a Fortune 500 corporation’s operating facilities in Changzhou, China, “Know Your Antitrust – Compliance with the Antitrust Law of the US, China, Europe, Japan and Korea,” Changzhou, China, May 2010.
• Conducted FCPA due diligence in China, Vietnam, and India as well as transactions in the Middle East and Europe.  The due diligence focuses on conduct, including gifts or bribes to public officials and the books and records side of the FCPA, which addresses how companies must maintain its accounting records. 
• Assisted clients in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations and conducted individualized seminars to clients in China.
• Conducted training on “Business Ethics in China,” Zhongshan, China, September 2008.
• Conducted training covering “FCPA, Antibribery and Corruption Laws in China,” Changshu, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, China, April 2008.
• Conducted FCPA training for automotive manufacturing subsidiaries of a Fortune 500 Company, “Gifts and Bribes:  Avoiding Liability in Antibribery and Corruption Laws,” Suzhou, China, July 2008.
• Provided advice and training to numerous clients about the implementation of China’s Employment Contract Law in 2008.

Litigation Experience

• Extensive experience in federal and state courts and alternative dispute resolution in the U.S.
• Assisted clients in relation to dispute resolution in mediations and in front of the Chinese International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).
• Assisted western and Chinese clients in relation to Rule B Admiralty proceedings in the Southern District of New York.
• Assisted clients in labor arbitrations in China.

Selected Publications & Presentations

• “Seven Key Questions for China Business,” co-presenter with Steven Dickinson, Iowa Economic Development Authority, February 12, 2013
• “Making and Selling Medical Devices in China: What You Need To Know About Product Liability,” FredNEWS: International, August 2012
• Presenter, “Global Anti-bribery and Corruption Laws: A Guide to Mitigating Legal Risk”, London, England, November 30, 2011
• Presenter, “Global Anti-bribery and Corruption Laws: A Guide to Mitigating Legal Risk”, Minneapolis, MN, November 16, 2011
• “Vetting Third Parties: How to Conduct Risk-Based Third-Party Due Diligence,” Moderator/panel member for final day workshop, American Conference Institute’s China Summit on Anti-Corruption, Shanghai, China, June 10, 2011
• “Doing Business in China: What’s New? What’s Next?,” Presentation for University of St. Thomas EMBA program, Shanghai, China, March 23, 2011
• “Reverse investment strategies to engage China businesses with Iowa” Panel Discussion for State of Iowa Foreign Trade Office with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Office in Shanghai, China, September 3, 2010
• “Immigrant Investment and Fundamentals of US Employment Law,” Invest in America Conference presented by the U.S. Consulate, Shanghai, China, January 29, 2010
• “Planting the Seed for Missouri Agriculture Business in China,” St. Louis Business Journal, December 2008
• “When Chinese put their minds to it, they rarely fail,” St. Louis Business Journal, September 2008
• Presenter, “Doing Business in China: Becoming Transaction Wise Overseas,” St. Louis Business Journal Panel Discussion, May 2008
• “Gifts and Bribery: Avoiding Liability under Antibribery and Corruption Laws,” Suzhou Industrial Park, China, May 2006

Professional Activities

• American Chamber of Commerce (Shanghai), Legal Committee Member
• International Bar Association
• US-China Business Council
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers

Judicial Clerkships

• Honorable George F. Gunn, U.S. District Court, Missouri, 1993-1994
• Honorable Carol E. Jackson, U.S. District Court, Missouri, 1992-1993
• Honorable William L. Hungate, U.S. District Court, Missouri, 1991-1992
• Honorable Theodore McMillian, U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, Missouri, 1990

Honors & Distinctions

• A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
• St. Louis University Law School National Moot Court Team

Community Involvement

• American Chamber of Commerce (Shanghai) (Legal Committee, 2007-present)
• St. Louis Opera Theatre (Board Member, “Operators,” President, 2000-2008)
• Off the Cuff Productions (a professional theatre company) (President, 1998-2006)
• Forest Park Advisory Board (President, Mayoral Appointee, 2004-2007)
• Arts & Education Council (Board Member, Development Board, 2004-2006)
• St. Louis Art Museum (Member, Corporate Partnership Committee and Young Friends Steering Committee, 2000-2006)