AUWCL Hosts the Workshop "Foreign Direct Investment in China: Opportunities and Challenges"
As China has increasingly become one of the world’s leading economic powers, it attracts more and more foreign investors who often find themselves overwhelmed by legal formalities. On April 19, 2018, American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) hosted the workshop “Foreign Direct Investment in China: Opportunities and Challenges” that covered in depth all legal aspects of doing business in China. The workshop was presented by Mao Rong, Senior Counsel of Reed Smith LLP, and attended by AUWCL students and alumni as well as D.C. practitioners in the field of international trade and investment law.
During the workshop, Mao Rong offered an overview of the legal considerations related to setting up business presence in China, including formalities for registering business in China and obtaining required approvals. Business needs and tax regulations, she explained, are important factors in choosing the right type of business presence. She also discussed the corporate legal framework on foreign investments, the law on mergers and acquisitions, corporate compliance and due diligence, and the challenges of doing business in China. Particularly relevant for newly established businesses, Ms. Mao addressed in depth practical matters related to employment and labor law in China.
The workshop concluded with an important discussion of business etiquette vs. bribery from perspective of criminal law, and unfair competition and anti-monopoly regulations. Ms. Mao’s practice areas focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and corporate transactions involving China, Europe and the United States. In nearly thirty years' practice, Mao Rong has advised US and European multinational companies on foreign direct investment in China, including formation of sino-foreign joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, acquisition of Chinese domestic companies, corporate restructuring, cross-border sales of goods and licensing. Ms. Mao received LL.B degree from Beijing University Law School and advanced law degrees from Yale University Law School.