Tailored for European SMEs planning to enter or expand in China, this hybrid workshop will focus on solving the key HR challenges that often limit international business growth. Recognising the complexity of China’s labour ecosystem, the event will bring together experts to explain the country’s policies, recruitment channels, and compliant employment solutions in clear, practical terms.
With this session, the EU SME Centre and European Union Chamber of Commerce in China invite European SMEs to gain actionable insights to build stable teams and mitigate operational risks. We will also discuss talent mobility, offering guidance on how EU SMEs can engage highly skilled young professionals. With expert speakers and SME case studies, the event will help SMEs formulate clear HR strategies to implement.
Legal and HR experts will cover essential employment issues for European SMEs in China, including how to calculate total employee costs by role and region, understand local incentive schemes, and plan budgets effectively. The session will present best practices for labour contracts, including on termination via mutual agreement. Participants will also learn about the importance of employee handbooks for legal compliance, the rules for hiring interns, and practical options for employing staff before setting up a legal entity in China.
Agenda
China Standard Time (CST)
16:00–16:10
Opening remarks David Lavorel, Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
16:10–16:25
Building Your Team in China: A Legal & Practical HR Guide for EU SMEs Charles XU, Counsel, D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel
16:25–16:40
Strategic HR Budgeting in China: Analysing Employee Costs,Compensation Structures, and Tax/Social Security Compliance Devin Li, Deputy General Manager, PHC Advisory, D’Andrea & Partners Group
16:40–17:20
Panel discussion and Q&A Moderator: David Lavorel, Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
Panellists: – Sunny Sun, Vice Chair of Human Resources Forum, European Chamber; Managing Director in China and HRD in Asia, Bernard Controls – Charles Xu, Counsel, D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel – Devin Li, Deputy General Manager, PHC Advisory, D’Andrea & Partners Group – René Neumann, President, European Guanxi
17:20–17:30
Closing remarks
Speakers and panellists
Charles Xu
Counsel, D’Andrea & Partners
Charles Xu is a Counsel at D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, located in Shanghai. He holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Central South University and earned his Master of Law degree from Indiana University Bloomington (United States). Licensed to practice law in both China and New York State, Charles is uniquely positioned to navigate complex cross-jurisdictional matters.
With 10+ years of legal experience, Charles has honed his expertise in corporate law, intellectual property, international dispute resolution, and compliance, providing strategic counsel to multinational corporations, startups, and public companies.
Devin Li
Deputy General Manager, PHC Advisory Tax & Accounting, D’Andrea & Partners Group
Devin has gained significant professional experience in China and the United States, where he developed strong skills in the field of accounting and finance, also holding managerial roles.
After obtaining his bachelor’s and Master’s in Accounting in the United States, he began his professional career working at China Everbright Bank and Ernst & Young, followed by several roles in both international and Chinese companies in Shanghai.
Devin joined the PHC Advisory Tax & Accounting team in 2019 as Financial Manager. He was then appointed Deputy General Manager, being distinguished for his excellent results and client satisfaction.
David Lavorel
Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
As the Business Advisor of the EU SME Centre, David Lavorel advises European SMEs on how to access opportunities and mitigate risks in the Chinese market.
A seasoned advisor with extensive experience on China-related matters, he has spent most of the past 30 years in China. He worked for a French electric utility company, a European chemical group, the Trade section of the French Embassy in Beijing and a leading European Intellectual Property Law firm. In 2010, he was selected by the European Commission and a consortium of chambers of commerce to launch the EU SME Centre Phase I.
During his career, he has advised hundreds of SMEs on how to approach the Chinese market, with a particular focus on industrial and infrastructure sectors.
Sunny Sun
Vice Chair of Human Resources Forum ,European Chamber; Managing Director, Bernard Controls China
Sunny Sun joined Bernard Controls in 2014 in the position of HRD of Asia then took on the responsibility of MD of Bernard Controls China. Sunny has 20+ years working experience in high management and in the field of HR.
Bernard Controls is a multi-national company as the leader of electronic actuators worldwide. Their Chinese brand has teams in factory production, sales, R&D and operations departments, which has enhanced Sunny’s management ability in crossing fields and diverse cultures. Before she joined BCC, Sunny worked as GM of Funcom China and served as overseas BD manager for Kingsoft and Datang Telecom.
René Neumann
President, European Guanxi
René Neumann is a 10th-cohort Yenching Scholar and Research Assistant at Peking University, specialising in China Studies. He serves as President of European Guanxi, the leading youth-led organisation on EU–China relations. An Asia-Europe Foundation Young Leader, he is committed to fostering dialogue and understanding between Europe and Asia. René graduated in International Relations from King’s College London and Sciences Po, and his research focuses on EU–China relations and Chinese foreign policy and FDI.
