M&A Partner Quoted on Challenges for Foreign Companies in China

M&A and private equity partner Elizabeth Cole was interviewed by CNN Money about the challenges faced by foreign companies doing business in China.

Cole stated that setting up a business in some industries -- media, banking and energy, for example -- can only be done through a joint venture with a local Chinese partner. That can be time consuming and costly.

Firms "have to make some hard decisions about how quickly they're going to grow their business in China and what their priorities are,” added Cole.

She continued on to state that separating intellectual property by setting up offices or plants in different locations, and only taking the most essential core technology overseas, are other steps firms can take to protect themselves.​