China Esquire

Today is the kickoff of TechSoup Global’s Partner Summit 2009.  And in case you were wondering, yes, we tried to briefly cover the NGO/GONGO sector in China.  John Fung, from HKCSS (our partner in Hong Kong and Macau), spoke this morning about how IT can strongly affect a smaller NGO in China.  This can give NGOs the tools they need to become more effective.  This is our TechSoup mission statement.

John spoke with a variety of NGOs in China about IT and technology.  He gave one case study: an NGO working with HIV/AIDS in China.  More about this group after the jump.

Continue Reading »

There was a time when I had a slowdown of these sort of postings about a new law firm opening shop in Beijing and/or Shanghai.  Last time it was Loeb & Loeb, which I noted was interesting from a smaller U.S. firm.  Well, now we have a U.S. regional firm based out of Atlanta–the South–opening up shop in Beijing. Morris Manning & Martin, which I had never heard of being (being based in the Bay Area, CA), recently announced its Beijing office launch.  (they also have a presence in Taibei, Taiwan)  In fact, the law firm in a press release brags:

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP is the only Atlanta-based law firm with a presence in Beijing.

So what are a bunch of southerners doing in Beijing?  More after the jump.

Continue Reading »

TechSoup Global (“TSG”), where I work, is actually looking to add a Staff Attorney (Volunteer/Fellow) later this year.  Above the Law and other news outlets have been covering the news (e.g., here, here, and here) about large law firms like Skadden, Morgan Lewis, Latham & Watkins, Weil Gotshal, Orrick, White & Case, and Mayer Brown (and more!) deferring start dates and offering stipends of $60,000 to $75,000 to volunteer at a public interest first.   When the economy gives you lemons, make lemonade.  So TSG is looking at add 1-2 Staff Attorney Fellows among those who have been offered deferral stipends.

Our selling point: how many non-profit orgs can offer you a chance to work on cutting edge international legal issues, in-house counsel corporate style experience, and a good environment in a sustainable, socially-minded enterprise business model?  We’d like to think we’re the only one.  More details after the jump.

Continue Reading »

Seems like there is still a silver lining even for firms being rocked by the economic downturn.  Latham & Watkins, still most recently famous for its gigantic layoff of attorneys and staff (and deferring first year associates), has poached partners from the Hong Kong office of Allen & Overy.  It seems like this economic climate is rife for poaching–and so Latham ran off with seven partners, in addition to relocating a London partner to HK.  A seven lawyer bagging and an eight lawyer beefing up in HK is some good news indeed.

The source after the jump.

Continue Reading »

A friend forwarded an email to me about an interesting seminar that will cover “Antitrust and Intellectual Property Economics and Litigation in China”.  Yes, sounds like a mouthful, and this could easily be a semeter-long course in law school.  But in that regard, it should prove to be really interesting.  The seminar is happening at the Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA on April 23, 2009 at 4:30pm.  Did I forget to mention its also free MCLE?

Unlike many of the conferences I post but cannot go to, I actually plan on attending this one.  More information after the jump.

Continue Reading »

Well, at least the economy hasn’t completely stopped U.S. based law firms from entering into the promised land of China.  The National Law Journal published an article today entitled “ Firm Delivers Chinese Practice“.  (free subscription required)  Seems like Loeb & Loeb has decided to join the party, opening a Beijing office by transplanting one of its New York partners.

Actual article after the jump.
Continue Reading »

Got an email from Linchang Shen via LinkedIn (Invest in China).  I had a feeling that many of you got the same email as well, but for those of you who didn’t, he sent his Powerpoint slides from a presentation he did about Foreign Direct Investment in and out of China. Linchang is of Counsel to Maalouf Ashford & Talbot, LLP.

Presentation and details after the jump.

Continue Reading »