China's Legal Environment and its Impact on Foreign Companies

AustCham Beijing and KEA Beijing invite you to attend a discussion about the legal issues facing foreign companies when entering China. Guest Speakers Luke Minford (Rouse China) and Ashley Howlett (Jones Day) will address some of the complexities of China's legal environment with reference to case examples. The presentation will conclude with an audience question and answer session chaired by John O'Loghlen.

Luke Minford, Head of Rouse China, Beijing

A central theme throughout the NPC and State Council agenda is the drive towards independent innovation. Hu Jintao's vision and future legacy is for China to once again become the engine room for the world's great inventions. To what extent is this vision realistic and what is happening now to achieve this? Will these plans succeed? Luke Minford, the China practice head for Rouse, one of the worlds leading intellectual property firms, will address this topic and answer questions. He will also talk about how this landscape impacts on foreign companies and their investments in China.

Ashley Howlett, Partner of Jones Day, Beijing

Real estate is a central pillar of China's economy, but is China's real estate market a giant ponzi scheme or a burgeoning bubble or is it really sustainable? Ashley Howlett, who heads international law firm Jones Day's Asia construction practice, will discuss some of the legal issues surrounding construction and real estate development in China as well as issues impacting on foreign businesses in China.

John O'Loghlen, Co-Founder, Gung Ho Ventures
John moved to Beijing in 2005 to study Mandarin and work for an international advisory business of former Goldman Sachs Chairman John L. Thornton. From 2006-2009 he led the business development for Domino's Pizza International and in January of this year, established a business partnership to develop dining concepts in China, which he is currently building from a base in Beijing targeting a national roll-out.

John presents regularly to investor clients of Asia-focused investment bank CLSA and is a member of the Asia Society's Asia 21 Young Leaders Class of 2010. John is a Director of New Zealand Spring Water and co-leads the management of Oxford-based Harry Mahon Cancer Research Trust and Hong Kong-registered Golden Bird Foundation. John has a BA from Harvard University studies and a MPhil from Cambridge University.