Managing Geopolitical Risks (China and Beyond): Issues, Impact, and Strategies

BRG and K&L Gates Roundtable Discussion

BRG and K&L Gates recently hosted the roundtable discussion “Managing Geopolitical Risks (China and Beyond): Issues, Impact, and Strategies.”

Brent Carlson and Craig Budner (K&L Gates) moderated the event, which featured John C. Gannon (former deputy director for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, and retired chairman, National Intelligence Council) and Orville Schell (Arthur Ross Director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society).

Geopolitical risks and their impact on global operations dominate boardroom discussions and strategic planning. Conflicts and tensions in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific have caused disruptions in supply chains, cross-border investments, and global markets. National security implications stand front and center in decision-making for leaders in both the public and private sectors. Navigating these effectively provides critical competitive advantage for businesses to survive and thrive in this new environment.

Steven Klemencic, David J. Teece, and Christopher Stangl provided insights alongside Dr. Kirti Gupta (Haas Institute for Business Innovation, UC, Berkeley) and K&L Gates’ Guillermo Christensen, Michael Harper, and Steven Hill. Topics included:

• Geopolitical outlook for 2024: a world of expanding conflicts, hot and cold

• China in the Year of the Dragon: political, economic, and diplomatic outlook

• The growing risks of China-related business

• US political dynamics amid an election year and increasing wariness of China

• Proactive strategies, solutions, and tactical steps for multinational companies and their leaders

• The role boards of directors serve in overseeing near- and long-term strategies to deal with increasing geopolitical and regulatory compliance risks

• Cyber risk and vulnerabilities to be considered when navigating the global marketplace