What the work covers

Market entry decisions are usually made before the legal detail is visible: which entity, where, with what scope of business and how much capital. Those choices affect banking, tax, hiring, visas and the ability to expand later.

We advise on the structure, prepare and coordinate the incorporation documents, and stay involved through the post-establishment steps that are easy to underestimate — seals, bank accounts, foreign-exchange registration, tax set-up and the first compliance calendar.

  • Choice between a WFOE, joint venture, branch or representative office
  • Company name, business scope and registered capital planning
  • Incorporation documents, powers of attorney and shareholder evidence
  • Registered address and lease requirements for company registration
  • Bank account, foreign-exchange and tax registration steps
  • Changes of scope, capital, shareholder or legal representative; deregistration

When clients call us

  • A foreign business is deciding how to enter the Chinese market and wants the options compared in practical terms.
  • An existing entity needs to change its scope, capital or shareholder structure.
  • A group is closing or restructuring a Chinese subsidiary and needs the exit steps mapped.

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.

  • A short description of the intended business activities and the proposed Chinese wording.
  • Corporate documents and identification for each shareholder.
  • The proposed registered address or lease, if one has been identified.
  • The investment amount, funding source and expected timetable.

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 incorporation take?

A straightforward WFOE often takes several weeks after the documents are complete, but the timetable depends on the district, the business scope and the readiness of the shareholder documents. We give a working timetable at the outset and update it as the file moves.

Do the founders need to be in Shanghai?

Not necessarily. Many steps can be handled under a power of attorney, although a bank account opening usually requires the legal representative or an authorised signatory to attend in person. We confirm the requirement for the chosen bank and structure.

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.