Exhibitions

China’s exhibition industry stands out for not only its historical but also prospective size and opportunities. The number and scale of venues, events, visitors, employees, etc. continue to increase – including after 2020 – in contrast to most other countries. Yet while government policies are still generally favorable, the regulatory framework and business environment present challenges to meeting remaining needs in the exhibition market.

DaHui is one of the few firms with a dedicated focus on the exhibition industry, which relies particularly on our TMT, M&A, IP and PE & VC experts. We have a long history assisting local and foreign players – often in cooperation we facilitate – to launch, acquire and sell exhibitions, handle regulatory, compliance and labor issues and deal with all kinds of crises. As our clientele ranges from the largest, marquee brands to the most specialized local exhibitions and our advice extends beyond legal issues to policy, PR/GR and commercial issues, we have a full view of this expansive market.

As hundreds of cities in China created or upgraded their venues – doubling the number from 2010 to 2020 and tripling the rentable indoor area – and global exhibition powerhouses entered the local market, DaHui’s attorneys were involved in countless deals, partnerships and day-to-day matters. We advised on the corporate structuring, joint ventures and other partnerships, licensing and other regulatory requirements and labor that underlay such phenomenal evolution. Now that virtual and other digital aspects are as important as the traditional ones, and the search for new synergies (and new talent) is on the rise, DaHui’s contributions in the areas of the Internet, telecommunications and other technologies as well as data, privacy and cybersecurity are all the greater.

While – even with its incomparable growth – China’s exhibition industry remains largely localized, avenues for its further development have opened up from the technological and sociomedical transformations. Businesses offering high-quality or innovative solutions, especially in operations, management and software, have opportunities to engage in a new era of Chinese exhibitions. With an expansion on the international arena, and interactions with the talent, customer bases and legal frameworks around the world, both Chinese and foreign players will need to retain close commercial harmony and dynamic legal counsel.