China

Graff & Karhunen is the most unique law firm in Finland. We have partners and attorneys from the People’s Republic of China as well as from the United States. China has become one of the largest and most vigorous markets in the world. Many Finnish companies have come to China for the tremendous commercial opportunities that the country offers. When these Finnish companies seek business and legal advice, however, they always face certain obstacles. In addition to language barriers, contrasting cultures and differing legal systems, foreign clients have faced difficulty in establishing and maintaining conventional attorney-client privileged relationships in China. Another less obvious problem however, can arise when a company's own legal advisors, with whom they enjoy a trusted attorney-client relationship, face limitations on their qualifications to practice in China. Although they may be allowed to have offices in China, that does not mean they are licensed to practice Chinese law.

Being acutely aware of these problems, Graff & Karhunen partners founded their firm based on the vision that Graff & Karhunen would overcome these barriers and help their clients succeed in doing business in China. On the occasion of Graff & Karhunen founding, the Chinese Ambassador to Finland, Mr. ZHANG Zhijian, sent the congratulatory letter to the firm.

From the outset of its operation, the firm has been recognized for its pioneering efforts to facilitate business in China. Based on the firm's historic foundation and its continued superior service, Graff & Karhunen's business has continued to grow and prosper.

As a full-service law firm, Graff & Karhunen assists clients from around the world, especially from the Scandinavian countries, with advice and representation, both at the negotiation table and in courtrooms across the Greater China area, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan Singapore and Macao, on a full spectrum of commercial matters. Our Chinese professional team proudly offers foresight in its ability to go beyond the simple quotation of printed laws to actively providing solutions and assisting its clients with the development of their People's Republic of China corporate strategies.

For international clients conducting business in the People's Republic of China, Graff & Karhunen provides a package of services, including, market research, agency representation, and project sourcing as well as comprehensive legal advice and representation. These services are devised primarily to benefit foreign businesses, and numerous multinational companies with operations across China are among the firm's clientele. Graff & Karhunen advises clients on a wide variety of matters, including, but not limited to:

• International Trade and Direct Investment

• Establish Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises, Equity Joint Ventures, Cooperative Joint Ventures and Representative Office in China

•Intellectual Property Rights

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Corporate, contracts, taxation

• Technology transfer, licensing and franchising

• Mediation, Arbitration and Litigation

Anti-dumping Investigations

- Responses to questionnaires issued by MOFTEC

- Presentation of statements and arguments to competent authorities

- Attendance at SETC hearings for injury issues

- Application for administrative review

Intellectual property rights (trademark, patent, copyright and know-how) Patents:

·Advising on strategy for protection of patents;
·Conducting search, watch and investigation of patents and providing legal opinions therefor;
·Preparing and prosecuting patent applications (Inventions, Utility Models and Designs);
·Preparing and filing patent reexaminations or invalidations;
·Non-infringement opinions;
·Enforcing patent rights, including court actions, administrative raid actions as well as border measures;
·Licensing and technology transfer;
·Patent annuity payment and reminding services;
·Other patent related legal matters.

Trademarks:

·Advising on strategy for protection of trademarks;
·Conducting search, watch and investigation of trademarks and providing legal opinions therefor;
·Negotiation of solutions to trademark or trade name related disputes;
·Prosecuting trademark applications for registration;
·Preparing and filing trademark oppositions and cancellations;
·Trademark licensing and trademark acquisitions;
·Litigating trademark related disputes;
·Enforcing trademark rights, including court actions, administrative raid actions as well as border measures;
·Designing trademarks in Roman words or in Chinese characters.

Copyrights:

·Advising and counseling;
·Obtaining computer software registrations;
·Copyright litigation and administrative actions;
·Other copyright related matters.

Other IP related matters:

·Drafting contracts concerning intellectual property rights;
·Advising on protection of trade secrets, trade dress and other unfair competition matters;
·Advising on domain name issues, and registrations of domain names;
·Recording intellectual property rights with China Customs;
·Enforcing other intellectual property rights through administrative or legal proceedings;
·Advising and counseling on other intellectual property related matters.

Transnational investment:

-Initial investment planning and due diligence
- Establishment of joint ventures, wholly-foreign-owned enterprises or other forms of corporate existence for foreign investment
- Finance planning and structuring
- Tax planning, formulation of exit strategies
- Design of corporate governance
- Customs formalities
- Labor and human resources
- Registrations and filings with government authorities
- Ongoing legal services to foreign invested enterprises
- Restructuring and liquidation of foreign invested enterprises

Mergers and Acquisitions

- Mergers and acquisitions by and between enterprises with foreign investments, companies listed in China and overseas, and domestic companies
- Spin-offs, recapitalizations and other restructuring transactions
- Strategic investments and joint ventures
- Venture capital transactions