Beijing, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/17/2009 -- While leading red circle law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu is no stranger to providing counsel to diplomatic missions and financial institutions, the firm is also known for its prominent health sciences practice. “The life sciences sector in China has developed later than developed countries and the authorities have had to develop laws in a very short time”, states Ed Lehman, Managing Director of the firm, “as one of the longest established law firms we have been at the forefront of legal developments in the field and we have been involved in both lobbying for better regulation and have assisted in the development of some of the most important legislative developments in this area. “
Lehman, the longest serving (and only foreign) Managing Director of any law firm in China, had roots in the field long before he came to China, “I was a chemistry major and biochemistry always interested me. When I came China in the 1980s I was eager to assist in the development of a body of pharmaceutical law in any way I could”. Lehman was a legal pioneer in the sector, acting as counsel for the Research and Development Pharmaceutical Association of China in addition to representing 28 of the 42 research based pharmaceutical companies in China.
When Lehman came to China in 1987 the pharmaceutical industry was in its infancy. Today the field is significantly different with Chinese manufacturers producing many of the drugs purchased in pharmacies throughout the United States and Europe. “The manufacturing sector has developed at an astronomical rate and legal regulation has not lagged behind”, relays Ed, “the State Food and Drug Administration has developed into a highly professional and regulated organization”.
The two day conference organized by the Asia Business Forum is designed to bring some of the leading names in the Asia Pacific region together such as Allan Marx Ancheta, Director of Sales Operations, for Merck Sharp & Dohme Philippines and Dr. Suchitra Kataria, head of business development for Bayer, Schering Pharma, Singapore.