Last year, we assisted a European client whose China subsidiary faced a classic trade secret issue. A senior sales manager resigned and joined a direct competitor.
Early this year, a client called with an unusual problem. He was in China to attend the annual party of his Chinese subsidiary, but when he tried to return to Europe, he was informed that he could not board the plane.
For international companies operating in China, non-compete agreements remain a key instrument to protect trade secrets and preserve competitive advantage.
On 29 December 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued the Announcement on Submitting the Compliance Audit Status of Minor Personal Information Protection (the "Announcement").
One of our US-invested clients recently faced a challenging claim from an employee who had been working from home under an approved remote-working arrangement. During normal working hours the employee took a short break, entered his kitchen, and suffered a serious injury while preparing lunch.
Employment law in China is in constant flux, but changes to the law – or to how the law is interpreted – are generally quite limited. Recent Interpretations by the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) are the exception; international companies that operate in China, need to take notice and prepare for action.
In most cases, termination projects are far more contentious and frequently lead to disputes. The best time to plan for termination is before signing the distribution agreement. Distribution arrangements rarely last forever — especially in China's fast-changing consumer market.
