Recommended Vendors

With one of the core purposes of All Roads as a platform for improving the decisions firms make in China, I have put together a list of firms that I recommend.

The recommendations are made based solely on the fact that I have worked with each firm through the course of my work (or client work) and I think their firms would be wise to consider them as part of their search for vendors

This is not a seal of approval, nor should my experience be the sole reason for selecting any of the firms below.  They are just firms I would like to highlight as having provided a good quality of product/ service.

Accounting firm/ Due Diligence:
Expat CFO – Founded by good friend, and long time collaborator, Jay Boyle. Expat CFO has a 5 year track record of providing accounting and financial services in China.

Law Firms:
China Solutions – Led by Nestor Gounaris, the only bilingual Greek/ Mandarin speaker in Shanghai, his firm has worked with several friends/ clients on structuring investments and due diligence

Squire Sanders Dempsey
With long time friends Amy Sommers and Charlie McElwee, SSD has provided invaluable advice and insights over the years I have known them and are a great option for medium and large sized companies

Faegre & Benson
Lead by long time China resident John V. Grobowski, formerly of Baker McKenzie, Faegre’s practice has a strong history in China with agricultural and food processing, and John’s knowledge of China’s legal environment is one of the deepest in China.

PR/ Communications
Asia Media – Lead by the dynamic duo Tina and Patrick, Asia Media provides a full service devoted to developing and executing China based communication strategies.

Marketing/ Branding
?Whatif!- Need some branding innovation or a jump start to some new ideas? Call on the folks at !Whatif? they have a knack for getting people out of their seats and tapping away the next big ideas.

Web Design
Dao by Design – a WordPress and Joomla monster, Ryan McLaughlin’s Suzhou shop has worked on several of my projects and I would highly recommend his work for either platform.

Real Estate
Comwin – Rosy Xi is perhaps the most aggressive real estate agent in town and has me on several occasions find retail real estate locations (commercial and residential listings as well). She will work hard to identify locations, and cuts properties that are not within parameters.

CRESA Partners - Few agents in town have as much experience in industrial and commercial real estate as Stephen Dekyper

Interior Design/ Architecture

A00 Architecture -Raefer is one of the hardest working ecoArchitects I know in town, and has worked on some of the most interesting restaurants and warehouses I have seen in Shanghai. His efforts were recently rewarded at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative.

arc8x Design – Stephen is an old friend and fellow member of the sustainabilty community (1st LEED certified architect in Shanghai I believe) who is being the Shanghai zoo’s Chimp and Ape houses.. and Dupont’s Corporate office. Talented, committed, and outspoken

Environmental Audit/ Assessment -

Greenovate – Besides being a committed ecowarrier and local celebrity, Mihela has developed a great team who perform audits, develop environmentally friendly products, and throw the occasional movie night on their green roof.

Factory and Labor Compliance

Wethica – Unlike a lot of the large compliance shops that ramped up after the “made in China” scandal to take advantage of a situation, Perig’s shop did not compromise quality for size.

Hospitals
United Family – Have nothing but good things to say about experiences in Shanghai and Beijing. Great facilities, friendly staff, and decent pricing

Besides being a committed ecowarrier and local celebrity, Mihela has developed a great team who perform audits, develop environmentally friendly products, and throw the occasional movie night on their green roof.