WHO WE ARE

Robin Tabbers

After working at international law firms in Amsterdam (Baker & McKenzie and Dentons/Boekel), Robin moved to Shanghai in 2010 and joined R&P.

By combining his knowledge and understanding of both Western and Chinese legal systems and business environments, he has become an important bridge and beacon of trust for many international clients doing business in China.

He assists predominantly European and Northern American companies with business activities all over China. He has essential experience in the field of Foreign Investment, M&A/Corporate, Employment, Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution.

Robin’s expertise and experience as part of the Employment section (such as compliance investigations, employee fraud and terminations) are recognized by Legal500 (click here), describing him as ‘Robin Tabbers leads by example. His vast knowledge and proven experience show when addressing corruption investigation, business structure, and set up, and employment investigations’ and ‘Robin Tabbers has deep knowledge of Chinese law and is very direct, straight, and fair in his approach. He also gives feedback about clients’ Western way of thinking versus the Chinese legal way’. In its review of the Employment practice, Legal500 praised the firm’s expertise in employment and compliance matters, including “employment aspects of M&A and corporate reorganisations” and “mass terminations and misconduct investigations.” Asialaw emphasized that ‘Tabbers also assists clients with disputes, particularly those involving labour and employment’.

Robin also supports dozens of international retailers and brands with managing their IP portfolios, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights.

Together with the experienced Chinese litigators of the firm’s dispute resolution team, he advises many clients on the best strategy to resolve their commercial disputes, if needed, via Chinese court or arbitration proceedings.

Robin’s clients include MNCs and SMEs active in the industries of manufacturing, healthcare, industrials, machinery, agriculture/horticulture, consumer goods (retail, e-commerce, distribution), real estate, F&B, sourcing, services (software, IT, creative, AV, care), entertainment (licensing rights, theatre, film, musical, music), social media & APP.

Besides the interest of corporate clients, he also protects the interests of their foreign managers. As part of the Private Client Services group, he has been the confidant of many foreign individuals with their criminal, personal, family, or employment disputes in China.

In addition to presenting and writing on legal and business topics, Robin has been a lecturer of a full curriculum course “Chinese Business Law” at the renowned Donghua University in Shanghai during the past years.

Leading directories Chambers & Partners, Legal500 and Asialaw, have all recommended or recognized his expertise for Corporate/M&A and Employment in the years 2012-2022.

He graduated from Tilburg Law School (Tilburg University), where he obtained an LL.M. degree in International Business Law. He is fluent in English and Dutch, and always working to improve his Chinese (Mandarin).

ACCOLADES

  • 2013-2018 Asialaw (PRC; General Corporate Practice, Employment; Intellectual Property)
  • 2018-2022 Asialaw (PRC; Corporate and M&A; Employment)
  • Robin and the firm have also received broad recognition in major international legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Legal500, and Asialaw Profiles:
  • ‘Robin Tabbers leads by example. His vast knowledge and proven experience show when addressing corruption investigation, business structure, and set up, and employment investigations’ (Legal500)
  • ‘Robin Tabbers has deep knowledge of Chinese law and is very direct, straight, and fair in his approach. He also gives feedback about clients’ Western way of thinking versus the Chinese legal way’ (Legal500)
  • ‘Robin Tabbers is best known for his M&A, corporate and commercial practice. Like Roos, Tabbers also assist clients with disputes, particularly those involving labour and employment’ (Asialaw)
  • ‘Quick replies; efficient; combines in depth local knowledge with a hands on attitude; not afraid to take a position; good understanding of local culture; solid legal quality’ (Legal500)
  • ‘I personally appreciate they’re walking the extra mile and that you get straightforward answers instead of ‘it depends’ (Chambers & Partners)
  • ‘They go straight for the target. They make it happen. Professional, knowledgeable of the Chinese market. I would recommend them highly to anyone who needs support in China’ (Chambers & Partners)

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Corporate

  • Assisted a leading European woman wear retailer with its retail and e-commerce China market entry, including: subsidiary incorporation, retail space lease contracts, e-commerce and T-Mall operations, employment and related contracts
  • Assisted three Dutch horticulture clients with their China market entry, including: WFOE establishment, trademarks, contracts, employment, tax, and immigration/visa
  • Assisted several European companies with Sino-Foreign joint venture negotiations
  • Assisted a European children clothing retailer on China market entry matters, including incorporation of a Sino-Foreign JV, JV contract, establishing e-commerce and T-Mall operations, supplier contracts
  • Assisted a large Canadian entertainment company with its FDI project, including: WFOE incorporation, investment structuring, international tax advice, investment negotiation and agreement, lease contract, construction contracts, project management contract
  • Assisted a European cultivator of vegetables with its greenhouses project, partnership, WFOE establishment, IP applications, and sales operations in China
  • Assisted a European machinery manufacturer with its joint venture negotiations in China
  • Assisted a European farming equipment and product company with sales operations in China
  • Assisted an European fruit trader with its IP issues, WFOE establishment, and sales operations in China
  • Assisted numerous European brands that sell online and offline in China with the incorporation of their Chinese subsidiary (WFOE/JV)

Employment & Restructuring

  • Assisted a Germany manufacturer to re-gain control over their facility, and terminate and successfully seek large damages fraudulent General Managers
  • Assisted with the restructuring of US invested manufacturing facilities and trading companies, including: liquidation of Manufacturing WFOE and Rep Office, incorporation of new Trading WFOE, layoff of all employees, termination of various leases
  • Assisted with a Polish manufacturing facility layoff of 50+ staff, including: legal opinion on termination, preparation of strategy and documents, on-site terminations/negotiations with all staff, severance pay calculations, settled with over 90% of staff
  • Provided support to a UK company regarding termination strategy, legal grounds, negotiations, settlement, calculations related to the termination of CFO and key managers

IP

  • Assisted and represented European company with infringement investigation, legal advice, AIC raid, civil lawsuits regarding three major infringements of our client’s trademark and patent
  • Assisted and represented US company with infringement investigation, legal advice, AIC raid, civil lawsuits regarding one major infringement of trademarks as well as design rights of our client’s valuable products
  • Assisted and represented European client with re-obtaining their trademark through pressure on and negotiations with their distributor
  • Assisted an European plant breeding company with its IP enforcement in China
  • Assisted an European flour producer with its IP issues and sales operations in China
  • Assisted an European dairy food company with its IP applications and sales operations in China
  • Assisted several European brands by successfully purchasing ‘their’ trademark through pressure on and negotiations with trademark squatters
  • Assisted over 25 international brands on, registration of and appealed against trademarks in China

Litigation & Arbitration

  • Assisted and represented US defendant in a SHIAC arbitration case regarding quality of goods dispute and breach of contract
  • Assisted and represented European claimant in a SHIAC arbitration case regarding quality of goods dispute and breach of contract
  • Assisted and represented European PE firm in a Shanghai litigation case regarding debt collection and breach of contract
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