在华营商实务 | 新形势下跨国公司法务眼中的机遇

企业面临的挑战不仅来自于疫情，其他因素比如地缘政治紧张局势、全球通胀以及对一些行业的监管加强，都让本已非常复杂的商业和监管环境更加复杂。

It’s not just the pandemic. Geopolitical tensions, global inflation and tightened regulation in certain industries have all complicated the already very complex business and regulatory dynamics.

尽管如此，许多受访者表示他们对中国的长期商业战略没有转向，因为中国的基本面 —— 其巨大的市场潜力、不断增长的中产阶级和日益增长的消费能力 —— 这些并没有改变。

However, many respondents stated that their long-term business strategies in China have not changed because the fundamentals in China - its huge market potential, the rising middle class and increased spending power - have not changed.

身处中国这个独特的市场，法务团队的思维方式、流程和方法需要能够应对这里的法律问题。

Sitting at the unique market of China, legal teams need mindset, process and approaches to legal issues here.

更重要的是，他们还利用法律专业知识与商业敏锐度，不断从挑战与风险中探索机遇。

More importantly, they are exploring opportunities from challenges and risks by using legal expertise and business acumen.

• 业务转型、数字化转型加速以及更为深入的本地化被视为新的机遇。

  Business transformation, accelerated digital transformation and more localisation were identified as new opportunities.

  
  

• 由于在全球和区域范围内的不稳定，加之国内不断变化的法律和监管环境，法务团队被赋予了更加广泛的职权范围，并受到总部更多关注。

  Due to global and regional disruption, and the constantly evolving legal and regulatory landscape in China, legal teams have been given a wider remit and received more attention from their headquarters.

企业的机遇

Opportunities for the business

• 业务转型：包括探索新的商业模式、新的产品和服务线、新的销售和分销渠道以及新的收入来源

  Business transformation, including exploration of new business models, new products and service lines, new sales and distribution channels, and new revenue streams

  
  

• 数字化转型加速：在商业决策中使用数字工具、人工智能、自主流程、数字合同和其他技术

  Accelerated digital transformation, including use of digital tools, AI, autonomous process, digital contracts and other technologies in business decision-making

  
  

• 更多本地化趋势 —— 供应链和生产本地化，产品更适应中国市场，以及推动更多本地化解决方案

  More localisation trends, including localising supply chains and production, tailoring products to the China market, and localised solutions

法务团队的机遇

Opportunities for the legal team

• 法务团队被赋予了更广泛的职权范围 —— 当前法务团队正站在应对变化、风险和危机的第一线
  The legal team has been tasked with a wider remit – now front line in dealing with changes, risks and crises
  
  
• 附加值和重要性的提高
  Added value and increased importance 

  
  

• 充当本地团队和总部/区域团队之间的文化桥梁
  Act as a cultural bridge between local business and HQ/regional teams

• 为了在本地市场保持竞争力，一些跨国企业正在考虑加速业务本地化，在中国推出高科技和核心产品。近几个月来，我们看到了地方政府加快审批新投资和扩建项目的例子。我们还注意到，某些行业的上、下游或邻近市场的并购活动有所增加。

  To remain competitive in the local market, some companies are considering localising production and launching high technology and core products in China. We have seen examples of faster approvals by local authorities for new investment and expansion projects launched in recent months. We have also noticed more M&A activities in the upstream, downstream or adjacent markets in certain sectors.

  
  

• 跨国企业继续评估在中国的近中期商业战略。预计在未来12至24个月，企业将经历更多的业务重整或重组、非核心资产剥离和新业务模式的探索。这给法务团队既带来了挑战也带来了机遇。

  Multinational companies continue to review their short to medium-term strategies in China. We anticipate that companies will experience more business restructuring or reorganisation activities, divestment of non-core assets, shift of business focus and exploration of new business models in the next 12-24 months. This creates both challenges and opportunities for legal teams.

  
  

• 我们还看到，中国的碳达峰碳中和政策、能源转型和新能源、虚拟现实和Web 3.0、自动化和机器人、区域全面经济伙伴关系协定(RCEP)、数字化转型等领域也将涌现出新一波商机。谁能抓住这些新机遇，谁就能生存和发展。

  We are also seeing a new wave of business opportunities arising from China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality policy, energy transition and new energy, metaverse and Web 3.0, automation and robotics, RCEP, digital transformation etc. Those who can grasp these new opportunities will survive and thrive.

  
  

• 投资周期将更长

  Investment cycle will be longer:

  
  

• 内部因素 —— 不少跨国企业趋于更保守的风险偏好，这意味着内部需要就风险和相关问题进行更多的讨论和沟通。协调内部各利益相关者也更加困难；

  internally – companies are taking a more conservative risk approach, which entails more internal discussions and communications on risks and issues. It is also more difficult to align internal stakeholders;

  
  

• 外部因素 —— 不断收紧的监管环境、更长的尽职调查过程、定价预期的分歧，所有这些都将导致投资项目时间表更长。

  externally – tightened regulatory environment, longer due diligence process, divergent pricing expectation will all contribute to longer project/investment timetables.

  
  

• 随着本地市场变得更加不可预测和复杂化，企业正经受着对商业信心和投资情绪的影响。当不同国家的法律和政策发生冲突时，跨境合规挑战也在增加。企业需要赋予本地管理团队处理危机和进行本地差异化处理的能力。

  As the markets become more unpredictable and complicated, companies are feeling impact on business confidence and investment sentiment. There are increasing cross-border compliance challenges when laws and policies of different countries conflict. It is essential to empower the local management team to deal with crises and handle local nuances.

  
  

• 面对全球通货膨胀和供应链中断造成的成本上涨、来自本地市场的压力以及留住人才的问题，企业正在考虑如何对冲潜在的脱钩风险。几乎所有受访企业都表示，为了更好地应对任何潜在的地缘政治挑战或供应链问题，近几年来采取了“在中国、为中国”的战略。

  With increased costs due to global inflation and supply chain disruptions, pressure from local market and talent retention issue, companies are considering how to hedge potential decoupling risks. To better prepared themselves for any potential geopolitical challenges or supply chain issues, almost all companies that we interviewed have adopted a “in China for China" strategy in recent years.

  
  

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