What the work covers

Recovery usually works best when pressure and timing are combined: a clear demand, a check on the debtor’s assets, preservation where available and proceedings that can be enforced. Waiting can turn a collectable debt into a judgment against an empty company.

We assess the debtor, send demands and negotiate, and move to preservation and proceedings when a commercial settlement is not realistic.

  • Demand letters and settlement negotiation
  • Debtor and asset enquiries
  • Asset preservation applications
  • Litigation and arbitration for unpaid sums
  • Judgment and award enforcement
  • Claims in bankruptcy and reorganisation

When clients call us

  • An invoice is overdue and the debtor has stopped responding.
  • A debtor appears to be transferring assets or closing down.
  • A judgment or award has been obtained but the money has not been paid.

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 contract, purchase orders and invoices.
  • Proof of delivery or performance and any acceptance records.
  • The payment history and the correspondence about the debt.
  • What is known about the debtor’s assets, directors and related companies.

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

How long does recovery take?

A negotiated payment can happen within weeks. Litigation and enforcement usually take months, and the timetable depends on whether the debtor contests the claim and whether assets can be found. We separate the legal timetable from the recovery prospect.

Can a foreign judgment be enforced in China?

Only where a treaty or a reciprocity basis applies, and the conditions are strict. Arbitration awards are generally more portable. We check the position for the specific country and document before advising on enforcement.

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.