James Gong > Bird & Bird > Beijing, China > Lawyer Profile

Bird & Bird has a mainland China presence for data protection law through Beijing-based James Gong. Gong has a strong understanding of the local regulatory landscape in China having worked in this field for a decade. He regularly assists major multinationals, including Sony, with their GDPR and systems compliance matters. He is also well-placed to advise on data transfers and breaches.

Bird & Bird‘s China practice fields sector experts in aviation, energy, automotive, life sciences, sports, retail, technology and manufacturing. Recent highlights include advising Chinese electric car company Human Horizons on its strategic market entry into Europe. Focused on advising Chinese state-owned enterprises and private companies on entering overseas markets, John Shi leads the Asia-Pacific corporate group from Beijing, where Sarah Zeng and James Gong are also key corporate partners. Shanghai-based Sven-Michael Werner has longstanding experience of advising multinational companies that conduct business in China.

Bird & Bird’s expertise in the TMT sector is reflected in its in-depth knowledge of both commercial and regulatory areas, notably in complex data and data protection projects. The firm advises on the full spectrum of issues that arise from tech transactions, encompassing a diverse array of legal domains ranging from IP, cybersecurity, and data protection, to employment, corporate, and dispute resolution. Its clients operate in industries such as cloud, IT and telecom, e-commerce and IoT, as well as life sciences tech. Leading the department is James Gong, a TMT specialist with an acute focus on data protection and cybersecurity, as well as regulatory and transactional matters. Gong expertly guides both foreign and domestic multinational companies in navigating data compliance projects, especially those with cross-border elements.

Bird & Bird, which has a strong track record for advising clients in the biotech space, is recommended for its expertise in advising on the digital aspects of the healthcare and life sciences sector, as well as providing employment and IP filings support. The team is led by Hong Kong based Alison Wong, who has experience in patent litigation, licensing matters and the legal implications of clinical trials. James Gong, who works at the firm’s Beijing office, provides expertise on Chinese data protection and security laws for medical industry clients.