Yangtze River Delta SME Forum 2015

The EU SME Centre, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and China IPR SME Helpdesk are delighted to invite you to the second half-day Yangtze River Delta SME Forum, held on Friday, 28 August at Regal International East Asia Hotel, Shanghai

This half-day conference will employ a hands-on approach, focusing on two of the biggest issues that European SMEs face when doing business in China: finance and human resources.

Agenda

15:00–15:10 Welcome Remarks by Gabor Holch, Founder & General Manager, Campanile Management Consulting

15:10–15:30 Access to Funding for SMEs by Marcus Wassmuth, Chief Representative, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg

15:30–15:50 Get What´s Yours: How to Manage Late Payments by Jan Holthuis, Managing Partner, HIL International Lawyers & Advisers

15:50–16:20 Moderated Q&A by Gabor Holch, Founder & General Manager, Campanile Management Consulting

16:20–16:45 Coffee Break

16:45–17:05 Legal Requirements on Salaries and Benefits for SMEs in China, Ying Wang, Partner – Head of China Employment Practice, Bird & Bird

17:05–17:20 Protect your Secrets by Reinout van Malenstein, IP Expert, China IPR SME Helpdesk

17:20–17:40 Preventing Common Labour Disputes by Ludmila Hyklova, Market Access Advisor, Legal, EU SME Centre Expert

17:40–18:10 Moderated Q&A by Gabor Holch, Founder & General Manager, Campanile Management Consulting

18:10–18:15 Closing Remarks

Fee: European SMEs will enjoy free attendance upon written approval after their registration on our website. The definition of European SME is a company headquartered in the EU with no more than 250 employees worldwide and an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million.

Register

Please click here.

Speakers

Mr. Marcus Wassmuth

Chief Representative, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg

In 2001, Marcus Wassmuth joined Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg’s representative office in Shanghai as the Chief Representative. Mr. Wassmuth helps customers of LBBW, comprised mostly of SMEs from the southwest of Germany to establish their businesses in China. Since 2004, he is responsible for all China activities of Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg.

Marcus Wassmuth is also active in the European Union Chamber for the many years.

He headed the local banking working group from 2002 until 2006 and again from 2011 until 2013. He was also a member of the local board in Shanghai for five years until 2011 and was founder and chairman for 3 years of the local SME working group.

Mr. Jan Holthuis

Managing Partner of HIL International Lawyers & Advisers (HIL)

Jan started to practice commercial law in 1992 and founded HIL in 1995 to become an international niche law firm specializing in Chinese law and practice. HIL was the first Dutch law firm that was awarded a license to operate a foreign law firm branch in China (2004). Jan is an experienced counsel in cross-border M&A and complex international litigation cases on corporate, commercial and IP related disputes.

He is also a registered arbitrator at the China International Economic Trade Arbitration Commission and the Shanghai International Arbitration Centre.

Jan holds several directorships in multinational companies active in China and Europe. Jan is living and working in Beijing.

Ms. Ying Wang

Partner, International HR Services Group

Ying Wang is a partner in the International HR Services Group, based in Shanghai, where she heads its Employment practice for China.

She has more than 13 years’ experience across the full range of employment issues, including various PRC labour and social insurance regulatory matters, mass layoffs, labour disputes, M&A-related matters, cross-border employment, and daily corporate labour issues. In addition, Ying was appointed as aPart-time Arbitrator of the Shanghai Labour Dispute Arbitration Committee in September 2004 and advises on labour arbitration and litigation.

Ying’s clients include multinational companies and Fortune 500 companies in various industries such as commercial banking, investment banking, FMCG, retail, luxury, IT and automobile. Ying also advises start-up companies and newly-established Foreign Invested Enterprises (FIEs), including M&A and restructures. She is also a member of Shanghai Labour Law Association.

Mr. Reinout van Malenstein

IP Expert,China IPR SME Helpdesk

Before joining the China IPR SME Helpdesk, Reinout has gained working experience as an IP lawyer in the Netherlands, working for a Magic Circle law firm and after that as the head of the China desk at a Dutch law firm. He also worked as a delegate of the EU China Co-Reach IPR project and as a researcher and lecturer of Utrecht University in The Netherlands.

Reinout is a Dutch citizen, and speaks English, Chinese, Dutch and German. He holds a Master of Laws in Chinese Law from Peking University and a Master of Dutch Law in Civil Law, specializing in Intellectual Property Law, from Utrecht University. Reinout is also a guest lecturer of various prestigious Chinese and European Universities and Institutions.

Ms. Ludmila Hyklova

Legal Advisor, EU SME Centre

Ludmila has been involved in legal consulting on international investment and cooperation for more than 17 years. She is now in charge of providing legal advice to EU SMEs looking to establish themselves in the Chinese market.

After working as legal counsel for a number of multinational corporations and for government sector in Europe, Ludmila spent most of her professional life in China working for a large EU financial group and now for the EU SME Centre. She focuses on foreign investment law, company law, corporate governance and labour law.