Fried Frank Set to Open Office in Hong Kong
December 12, 2006
Four years ago, it was the law firm merger everybody was talking about. Then it didn't happen. <br>Now the firm is turning its attention to Asia. It is set to announce today the opening of a Hong Kong office. Six partners recruited from British firm Simmons & Simmons, led by China region managing partner Huen Wong, will launch the office for Fried Frank. Another three from Simmons & Simmons, including China corporate head Stephen Mok, will come aboard early next year.
Alternative Routes To U.S. Markets Impact Reporting Requirements For Chinese Companies
November 30, 2006
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Web site, there are currently 144 domestic Chinese companies registered with the Commission. This number is deceiving, however, since more and more Chinese companies are entering the U.S. through business combinations with U.S. domestic listed companies or through off-shore holding companies, utilizing the wholly-owned foreign enterprise (WOFE) structure. While the end result is the same ' a listing on a U.S. exchange ' the decision to 'domesticate' in the United States or remain a 'foreign private issuer' can have significant ramifications for the company's ongoing regulatory compliance obligations. Foreign private issuers continue to enjoy certain levels of relief from the U.S. compliance regime by virtue of the fact that they are also required to comply with their local, or 'home country', reporting requirements.
China's World Trade Compliance
November 30, 2006
Board of Editors member, Prof. Usha Haley, spoke at the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hearing on China's World Trade Compliance. In Part One, she addressed subsidies, their forms and complications. In Part Two, she covers how profitable and available those subsidies are and how profitable companies are that serve the China market.
Policy and Regulatory Outlook: 2007 ' Franchise Industry Eyes New Congress
November 30, 2006
With the recent Congressional elections returning leadership of the U.S. Senate and House to Democrats for the first time in more than a decade, the business community is keenly interested in the priorities of the new Congress. While it is apparent that Congress will initially focus on issues outside the direct domain of franchising (Iraq, Congressional ethics, etc.), numerous matters of importance to franchisors and franchisees are on the table, too.
The Credit Agency Reform Act: What Leasing Companies Need to Know
November 30, 2006
Any equipment leasing or finance company desiring to access the debt capital markets must quickly become adept at dealing with a unique feature of that world: the credit rating and its gatekeeper, the credit rating agency. Entering this realm can be a jolt for finance officers used to the relationship-friendly, competitive environment of commercial banks. Dominated by two monoliths, Standard & Poor's and Moody's, the rating agency process is steeped in the clinical analytics of credit modeling. Rating agencies are viewed by many as academic in perspective and, to some, remote and obscure in their approach.
<b>Sales & Service Strategies:</b> Nine Ways to Provide Superior Client Service
November 30, 2006
Improving client service is especially important, as general counsels of large companies have revealed to BTI Consulting that more than two-thirds would not recommend their primary law firm, 50% plan to try a new law firm for a substantive matter this year and they plan to cut nearly 40% of their outside firms by 2008. With decreasing client loyalty, firms need to spend more time improving client service as well as building barriers to entries to other outside law firms.
<b><i>From the Second Annual MLF 50:</b></i> Two Standout Firms Focus on Client-Centric Marketing
November 30, 2006
Two firms from the MLF 50 are standouts in the area of client-centric marketing activities and for different reasons. <br>The first, Winston & Strawn, led by Director of Business Development and Marketing Partner Barbara C. Sessions, embarked on an overall visibility campaign with an overarching theme on client-focused service and they did this via their Web site.<br>No less outstanding in harnessing client-centric based marketing is the firm of Holland & Hart. In 2006, the marketing department, led by Director of Marketing Mark Beese (or as he refers to himself the 'Marketing Guy') engaged in several new initiatives; each of them intimately involving the firm's clients, with the goal of deepening Holland & Hart's relationship with current clients and attracting new ones. The firm's advertising campaign has evolved to highlight innovative and successful clients as part of the Holland & Hart trademark western wilderness.
The Best of MLF 2006
November 30, 2006
As 2006 comes to a close ' and in keeping with tradition ' we will take a look back at the topics that defined this past year in the areas of marketing, business development, media and, most recently, management issues.