Experience
Kevin Duan is a partner at Han Kun Law Offices in Beijing, widely regarded as a leading legal expert in the fields of data protection, intellectual property (IP), and regulatory compliance. With a strong focus on cross-border legal matters, his practice centers on helping multinational corporations and Chinese enterprises navigate complex legal and regulatory frameworks. His expertise extends across Internet platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and financial services.
Mr. Duan is particularly known for his ability to bridge the gap between law and technology, a skill honed through his diverse academic and professional experience. This combination of technical knowledge and legal acumen enables him to analyze and handle legal issues related to emerging technologies with nuance, making him one of the few legal practitioners in China who can provide comprehensive legal advice on technology-driven issues, in particular those with cross-border natures.
As a partner at Han Kun Law Offices, Kevin Duan focuses on three main areas of legal practice:
• Data Protection and Cybersecurity Compliance: With the rise of cross-border data transfer regulations and China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), Mr. Duan has become a key figure advising multinational and Chinese companies on how to navigate China’s stringent data protection laws. He supports clients with data mapping, regulatory filings, cross-border data transfer assessments, and compliance with PRC cybersecurity review rules.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Law: He handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, particularly in high-stakes IP litigation, licensing, and transactional work. With his technical background, Mr. Duan is uniquely positioned to address complex technical issues that often arise in tech-related litigations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Kevin Duan plays a crucial role in helping clients understand and comply with China’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for emerging technologies, such as generative AI, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and cross-border data flows. His ability to merge technical knowledge with legal strategy makes him particularly sought after in regulatory matters involving complex technical infrastructures.
Mr. Duan advises a wide range of global clients on cross-border regulatory compliance, particularly in industries facing significant cross-border data challenges:
• Technology and Internet Platforms: He advises Chinese Internet giants and multinational tech firms on cross-border privacy and data security issues, particularly on how to comply with China’s PIPL while adhering to the GDPR in Europe and CCPA in the U.S.
• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices: He works with life sciences companies on cross-border issues, especially those involving data sharing for clinical trials and ensuring compliance with China’s security assessments for cross-border data transfers.
• Automobiles: Mr. Duan routinely works with some of the most known names in the automobile industry in their data and autonomous driving-related legal matters. Notably, Mr. Duan helps companies navigate through the complex mapping and survey data compliance requirements in China, which are critical for both car makers and autonomous driving solutions providers.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): As China ramps up its regulation of AI, Mr. Duan has become a central figure in helping AI firms comply with cross-border IP and data regulations, such as data localization, generative AI compliance, and AI algorithm filings.
• Semiconductors: With his technical background, Mr. Duan is well-positioned to handle legal matters in the semiconductor sector. He routinely advises semiconductor clients in their IP transactions, patent/trade secret litigations, and technology export control matters.
Through his work with these clients, Kevin Duan is at the forefront of China’s digital transformation and legal regulation of AI technologies, providing companies with the legal guidance they need to innovate responsibly.
