Legal, Practice and Technical Considerations for European SMEs
This event is held by the EU SME Centre and CBBC
Data protection and cybersecurity are now critical issues for most businesses when trading across international borders. Many businesses now operate business models that rely on the ability to process, store and transfer customer data. European SMEs have largely adapted to GDPR and other national data privacy laws, while an increased awareness of cybersecurity threats have also encouraged business to take stronger measures to improve cybersecurity and protect customer data.
The legal frameworks for cybersecurity and data protection in China, such as the Cybersecurity Law and Draft Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). are relatively new, and many Western companies have a limited understanding of how to comply with these rules. SMEs operating in China face various restrictions in terms of how access data, as well as how data should be collected, stored, and processed. China’s data localisation requirements can restrict cross-border data flows, and there are also a number technical challenges facing companies when setting up their cloud infrastructure.
This seminar will explore the key challenges relating to data and cybersecurity, focusing on the legal, practical challenges and technical challenges facing European SMEs typically. Companies from all sectors are invited to join this webinar, although companies consumer/retail, creative and digital services, education, healthcare, and tech are likely to find the session particularly valuable.
Agenda:
09:30 – 09:40 (UK) / 16:30 – 16:40 (CN)
Welcome notes & scene setting
Mark Hedley, Director, Knowledge Economy, CBBC
09:40 – 10:10 (UK) / 16:40 – 17:10 (CN)
Cybersecurity and Data Protection and Compliance in China,
Mark Schaub - International Partner, King & Wood Mallesons
10:10 – 10:40 (UK) / 17:10 – 17:40 (CN)
Connectivity and Data Sharing Challenges When Operating in China
William Browne, Account Director, China Mobile International
10:40 – 10:50 (UK) / 17:40 – 17:50 (CN)
Q&A
Speakers' Bio
Mark Schaub - International Partner, King & Wood Mallesons
Mark Schaub specializes in foreign direct investment, cross border M&A, intellectual property, and private equity investment in China.
He has advised investment projects in a wide variety of sectors including retail, automotive, autonomous cars, blockchain，fintech and manufacturing. Transaction sizes have varied from USD 500,000 to over USD 1 billion. He is familiar with China issues faced by companies of all sizes. He has advised on foreign investment projects in all major sectors across China with a cumulative value exceeding US$ 20 billion.
Mark has been lead counsel for clients in acquisitions, M&A projects, outsourcing, OEM contract manufacturing, technology licensing, compliance, restructuring, joint venture disputes, fraud, distribution, as well as day-to-day corporate advice.
Mark has been living full time in Shanghai from 1993. He joined King & Wood Mallesons in 2000. He was the first foreign lawyer to join our firm. Prior to this, he worked in the Shanghai offices of well-known German and US law firms. Mark has been consistently awarded Asia Law's “Lawyer of the Year” for corporate work. Since August 2018 Mark has been splitting his time between London, Frankfurt and Shanghai.
Mark speaks English, German, and Mandarin.
William Browne, Account Director, China Mobile International
William Valentine Browne is an Account Director with China Mobile International. He has over ten years of experience assisting SME’s to Publicly listed companies expand their capabilities in China. For the past 5 years, William has been working with Chinese state-owned telecom providers, helping European Enterprises expand and improve their connectivity with their operations in China.
China Mobile International Limited (CMI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile, mainly responsible for the operation of China Mobile's international business. In order to provide better services to meet the growing demand in the international telecommunications market, China Mobile established a subsidiary, CMI, in December 2010. Leveraging the strong support by China Mobile, CMI is a trusted partner that provides comprehensive international telecom services and solutions to international enterprisers, carriers and mobile users. Headquartered in Hong Kong, China, CMI has expanded its footprint in 37 countries and regions.
