Gary Biehn is a Partner in, and Chair of, the Business Department of White and Williams LLP. Mr. Biehn regularly works with advisors in China and Southeast Asia to assist businesses in forming strategic partnerships and pursuing business opportunities in the region. Mr. Biehn frequently speaks on China law issues including “Strategies for Trade and Investment in China,” and “Exporting to China: Seizing Opportunity and Managing Risk.”
Barry Briskman, President, Fishman and Tobin International, Inc., oversees all sourcing, raw-material procurement and manufacturing in Asia, areas of the Caribbean and Central America. Fishman and Tobin will import into the United States over 35 million garments from 14 countries and about 80 factories this year. Their China office has evolved into a major facility to develop and source material for domestic consumption in China, as well as for global export.
Robert L. Elsas is Regional Manager and Senior Credit Officer of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s International Trade Programs, covering Eastern New York, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware since 1997. Located within the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center, the SBA provides assistance to start-up companies, as well as established exporters.
Louis Ho assumed his position as Director, New York Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in 2001, following a career with HKTDC that spans more than 20 years. Early in his career, Mr. Ho managed HKTDC’s promotional activities in emerging markets including the Middle East, Africa and Latin America; he has also worked in HKTDC offices in London, Miami, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Michael Ho leads the China Desk in New York for PriceWaterhouseCoopers; he has practiced China tax in the Shanghai office for 10 years. Mr. Ho provided assistance to many foreign investors in China, including feasibility studies, procurement set-up, acquisition of a state-owned asset, tax audit defense, debt restructuring and cash repatriation.
Chungsheng Lu is an Associate in the Business Department at White Williams LLP. Previously a lawyer in China, Mr. Lu has an intimate understanding of Chinese legal and business environments. He keeps close relationships with Chinese legal and financial professionals and business entities that intend to develop their businesses overseas.
Gene Principato, as founder of The Marketing Difference, has helped both midsize and large clients grow their businesses by identifying new markets, developing new business relationships, and improving the effectiveness of their marketing and sales programs. In the international arena, he has special expertise in China and the Far East.
Tom Vellios, former CEO of Zany Brainy, and David Schlessinger, creator and founder of Encore Books and Zany Brainy, founded Five Below in 2002. Five Below is a new retail concept positioned to become the leading extreme-value retailer to the teen market and beyond. It offers thousands of trend-right products, all of which are priced from $1.00 to $5.00.
Peter Weissman, a Partner at Blank Rome in Washington, D.C., concentrates his practice in patent litigation in the U.S. and abroad. He counsels clients in areas such as patent procurement and strategies for start-up and established companies, prosecuting and defending patent-infringement actions, university technology transfer, licensing and due-diligence investigating, and trademark prosecution.
Ken Wong is the Managing Partner of SmithWong Associates, LLC, an international consulting firm that provides business advice, relationship management and systems services to assist clients in defining and implementing China business strategies. Mr. Wong is also a Commissioner on the Presidential Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders.