What the work covers

Foreign-invested companies in China usually need a steady hand on commercial documents: customer and supplier contracts, shareholder arrangements, board approvals and the internal rules that keep decisions defensible. The work is rarely a single transaction; it is the routine legal layer around how the business operates.

We review and negotiate agreements in English and Chinese, explain which terms are enforceable in China and identify where local practice differs from what the client expects at home. Where a question touches employment, tax or regulatory approvals, we coordinate it within the same matter.

  • Commercial contracts with customers, suppliers and service providers
  • Shareholder agreements and joint-venture constitutional documents
  • Board resolutions, delegated authority and company-seal procedures
  • Intra-group arrangements and related-party transactions
  • Distribution, agency and reseller terms
  • Contract negotiation, breach notices and termination

When clients call us

  • A significant contract is being negotiated and the Chinese-law terms need review before signature.
  • Shareholders disagree about decision rights, dividends or the appointment of officers.
  • A board decision needs to be documented so that it holds up if it is questioned later.

Preparing for a first consultation

Bringing the documents below to the first meeting usually makes the time more productive. If some are missing, send what you have and we will identify the gaps.

  • The company’s business licence, articles of association and latest shareholder register.
  • The draft contract or the correspondence that led to it.
  • Any internal approval rules or prior board resolutions that apply.
  • The commercial deadline and the outcome the business wants.

How consultation fees work

A short call to the 24/7 line is free and is used to identify the next step. If you need more than that, we arrange a scheduled consultation. In-person consultations at our Jing’an office are charged by the hour; the hourly basis and the expected duration are confirmed in writing before the appointment.

In-person consultation

Billed by the hour

  • Review of the documents you send in advance
  • The in-person meeting, up to the time booked
  • A written summary of the main points and next steps

The hourly rate, the expected duration and the scope of the consultation are confirmed in writing before the appointment. VAT, official fees, translation, notarisation and other disbursements are charged separately. Matter work that follows a consultation — drafting, filings, negotiation or court work — is scoped and quoted separately. How consultations work.

Questions we are asked

Can you review a contract governed by foreign law?

We focus on the PRC-law questions and on how the contract will operate in China. Where the governing law is foreign, we work alongside counsel in that jurisdiction rather than replacing them.

Can you act as outside general counsel?

Yes. Some clients use us for defined projects, others on a retainer that covers routine contracts, governance questions and escalation when a dispute appears. The scope is agreed in writing.

General information. This page describes the scope of our practice and does not constitute legal advice. The basis on which time is charged is confirmed in writing before work begins. No outcome can be guaranteed.