About Peter Neumann
Positions Held
Neumann PC, A Professional Law Corporation *
Managing Shareholder (current)
International Commercial Arbitrator & Mediator (current)
Adjunct Professor of Law-Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution ( current)
Ares Management
Deputy General Counsel – Asia
Beijing Broad & Bright Law Firm
International Partner, Shanghai Office
Managing Shareholder, Broad & Bright, P.C., Los Angeles
Celanese Corporation, Shanghai, PRC
Asia Pacific General Counsel, Vice President and
Deputy General Counsel
Greenberg Traurig LLP, Shanghai Office
Managing Shareholder
Faegre & Benson LLP, Shanghai Office
Executive Partner
Deacons/Deacons Graham & James
Managing Partner, Shanghai Office
Associate, Hong Kong and Shanghai
Bryan Cave, Santa Monica, CA
Associate, Corporate Department, Santa Monica Office
Summer Associate & Law Clerk, Los Angeles Office
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* Including predecessor firm, Law Offices of Peter A. Neumann
Education
LL.M. in International Commercial Arbitration (2020) Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
J.D. (1989) UCLA School of Law
A.B. (High Honors) (1984) Dartmouth College (Asian Studies, Chinese Language and Literature)
professional Experience
International Corporate Attorney
From an initial foundation of broad-based US corporate/business law practice experience, Mr. Neumann relocated to Greater China in 1993 where he engaged in a diverse Greater China/Asia M&A, foreign direct investment, corporate, commercial and IP/technology transactional practice, serving U.S., European, Chinese and other Asian clients. Rapidly moving into first-chair roles, he was promoted to partner in 1999 and handled matters of increasing size, complexity and novelty with the growth and opening of the Chinese economy. Mr. Neumann also has extensive practice experienced in regulatory and compliance matters (including FCPA, anti-trust, PRC foreign exchange controls and customs), licensing, international trade and real estate. In addition, he has worked on a number of cross-border capital raises for Chinese growth stage companies and other financing transactions. In the course of representing clients in China, Mr. Neumann has accumulated extensive experience interfacing with government officials at various levels.
He also advises Chinese companies on their U.S. acquisitions and market entry strategies and clients from various jurisdictions on international corporate and business matters.
Corporate Counsel
Asia-Pacific General Counsel: Mr. Neumann led and managed the Shanghai - based Asia-Pacific Legal Department and regional legal work, with additional regional compliance oversight for a Fortune 500 chemical and specialty materials company. He had substantive involvement with new greenfield investments, strategic M&A projects and long-term take-or-pay contracts in China, East Asia and Southeast Asia (including Korea, Thailand and Indonesia), as well as anti-trust and FCPA compliance, regulatory, government affairs and dispute resolution matters. Neumann also served on the core leadership team for the largest division of the company, which was based in Shanghai at the time.
Deputy General Counsel – Asia: Based in the Los Angeles headquarters of a leading asset manager (AUM exceeding $100 billion), Neumann was responsible for leading, managing and providing legal support for China equity investment funds and a proposed mezzanine fund, as well as performing compliance – related duties, frequently with Chinese as the working language. Substantive matters encompassed limited partnership agreement negotiations, restructuring employee carry program, negotiation of LP side letters, internal investigations, due diligence, compliance matters (FCPA, anti – money laundering) portfolio investments, fund-management joint venture, advising on cross-border investment and funding structures, resolving compliance issues and dispute management.
Outside General Counsel -- U.S.: Mr. Neumann has also served as outside U.S. general counsel for Chinese companies entering and expanding in the U.S. market, as well as U.S. companies in the China market.
Independent Arbitrator & Mediator
Mr. Neumann serves as an international arbitrator, mediator of commercial disputes, and M&A attorney-at-law, Adjunct Professor Of Law - Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, with particular expertise in China-related matters (parties, subject matter, and/or language).
He brings a deep understanding of cross-border and China transaction structures to resolution of complex corporate and business disputes that span legal systems and cultures. He is at home with both English and Mandarin Chinese arbitral proceedings, including hearings and written submissions.
Mr. Neumann is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), holds an LL.M. in International Commercial Arbitration from the top-ranked Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and is a Foreign Observer and Consultant to the China Academy of Arbitration Law. He is listed on the following arbitrator panels:
- Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)List of Arbitrators
- Shanghai International Arbitration Center Panel of Arbitrators
- Shenzhen International Arbitration Court Panel of Arbitrators
- (CIArb)Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Los Angeles Chapter Chair
- (FCIArb)Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)Fellow
- China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)Panel of Arbitrators
- (FINRA) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Panel of Arbitrator
- Hainan International Arbitration Court Panel of Arbitrators
- (KCAB)Korean International Commercial Arbitration Board Panel of Arbitrators
- Los Angeles County Bar AssociationAttorney-Client Mediation and Arbitration Services
- China Academy of Arbitration Law 中国仲裁法学研究会International Adviser and Observer 国际顾问和观察员 Pacific Council on International Policy