China Law & Practice

China Law & Practice editor Phil Taylor speaks exclusively with Ferheen Mahomed, regional general counsel for Asia at Societe Generale, whose team recently won CLP’s 2009 International In-house Team of the Year award.

During the interview, Phil and Ferheen will discuss:

* The in-house legal function at Société Générale - its future and its main areas of focus

* How the team instructs and works with external counsel

* The bank's recent China Awards win and its impressive achievement of the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary bank and localisation of its businesses despite a lack of relevant legislation

* The legal and regulatory issues facing foreign banks in China

* The next 12 months and a wish list for regulatory reform

Confirmed speakers include Joseph Deng, special counsel with Baker & McKenzie; Shawn Zhao, senior corporate counsel, China, with Google; and CLP editor Phil Taylor.

The PRC Employment Contract Law is on the minds of counsel advising companies with operations in China.

The Law has strengthened the rights of employees, giving them the opportunity to take their disputes to low-cost employment tribunals. Workers are more aware of their rights and unions have increased their presence in foreign-invested companies. Companies are desperate to cut costs, but must stay legal.

During the 60-minute web-seminar, panellists will discuss:
- the impact of the Law and the implementing regulations and recent Shanghai High Court interpretation;
- the rules covering individual terminations and mass lay-offs;
labour unions, works councils and collective contracts;
- increased labour disputes and arbitrations; and
- cost-cutting measures for companies struggling to stay afloat.

It has been under a year since the PRC Anti-monopoly Law came into force, but its impact has already been felt worldwide, with key cases causing considerable debate. Speakers in this web-seminar will discuss:

- the protection of legitimate expectations from businesses;
- the impact of China's merger-control rules on transaction planning; and
- China's rules on foreign-to-foreign mergers, as well as extra-jurisdictional enforcement.

Speakers include: Marc Waha, partner of Norton Rose in Hong Kong; Simon Sorockyj, senior associate of Pinsent Masons in Hong Kong; Dr Zhan Hao, managing partner of Grandall Legal Group in Beijing.