Providing insight to clients on how to effectively conduct business across borders is more important than ever now that travelling for face-to-face meetings is not an option. Join us for an evening (but bright and early morning in Asia!) discussion of best practices for advising clients doing business in China, India, and Southeast Asia. Our speakers have a wealth of experience navigating the intricacies of doing business in Asia, and will help point you in the right direction to ensure continued success during this time of pandemic.

This program is part of a joint regional and national CBA Series called the DBI Series, which is an ongoing collection of programs exploring legal issues arising from growth via exporting, direct investing and doing business abroad. The Series will survey the knowledge that advisors and business leaders need to help Canadian businesses reach new international markets. Each session will examine the key legal and commercial considerations for expanding a Canadian business into a new geographic region. Speakers from export-supporting agencies and lawyers in private practice (both Canadian and foreign) will provide multidisciplinary, high-level reviews of important areas such as:

• Business licenses and registrations
• Corporate structure options for establishing a foreign operation (e.g. subsidiary vs. branch, joint venture, or non-resident)
• Local income tax, commodity tax, customs, employment and immigration issues
• When and how to retain foreign counsel, customs brokers and other advisors
• Speakers will also identify any idiosyncrasies of the jurisdictions in question to help avoid common pitfalls, such as corruption risk, cultural or language issues, requirements for local joint venture or strategic partners, or other considerations
• Special considerations and impacts related to COVID-19 and its aftermath
   

Speaker Bios

Michael Green, Director, Government Relations and Strategic Development, Sannam S4:

In his role at Sannam S4, Michael advises on global market entry strategy across over twenty markets supporting businesses, nonprofits and universities as they grow their footprint overseas.  Prior to his current role which is based out of Washington D.C., Michael lived in Mumbai as the General Manager of Sannam S4’s India business.  There he implemented key personnel and system changes across the organisation’s four locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai.  Michael is a licensed lawyer in the State of California and the proud husband of a British Columbian.  

Daniel Lo, Legal Counsel, UBS Bank Singapore

Daniel is a private equity lawyer in Singapore and is qualified in Canada (AB, ON), England & Wales and the British Virgin Islands. He is currently working as a legal counsel at UBS and focusing on investment funds and asset management. He was previously an associate at an international offshore law firm in Singapore, legal counsel at a private equity firm in Hong Kong and an associate in an international law firm in Canada. Daniel is a founder of Global Lawyers of Canada, a national professional association that supports internationally trained lawyers and diversity in the legal profession.

Guoxun (Kevin) Zhang, Counsel, Zhong Lun Beijing

Guoxun (Kevin) Zhang is Counsel at the Beijing office of Zhong Lun law firm. He practices in the areas of WTO/International Trade, Antitrust/Competition, and Compliance/Regulatory law. He has previously acted as deputy director in Department of American and Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of Industry, Security, Import and Export Control, Bureau of Trade Remedy and Investigation in Ministry of Commerce of PRC. He was recently named a “One Belt One Road” Leading Talent Lawyer by All-China Bar Association.