What the work covers

Cross-border trade documents often look familiar, but their effect in China depends on local rules and on how the parties actually perform. Payment security, delivery terms, quality claims and termination rights deserve more attention than they usually receive at signing.

We review and draft distribution, agency, supply and sale agreements, advise on Incoterms and payment structures, and handle the correspondence and disputes that follow a missed delivery or an unpaid invoice.

  • Distribution, agency, franchise and reseller agreements
  • Supply, OEM and manufacturing contracts
  • International sale contracts and Incoterms
  • Payment terms, security and retention-of-title questions
  • Quality, delivery and force-majeure disputes
  • Termination, transition and post-termination obligations

When clients call us

  • A company is appointing a Chinese distributor and needs exclusivity, targets and termination rights balanced.
  • A supplier has stopped delivery or a buyer has rejected goods and the contractual position needs to be established quickly.
  • An existing trading relationship needs to be restructured or brought to an end.

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 draft or signed distribution, supply or sale agreement.
  • The order history, invoices and proof of delivery or acceptance.
  • The correspondence around the problem and any notices already sent.
  • The commercial outcome the business wants to preserve.

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

Which Incoterms should we use?

The right term depends on who arranges transport, insurance and customs clearance, and on where risk should pass. We explain the practical consequences of the main options rather than treating the choice as a formality.

Should the contract use arbitration or a court?

Arbitration is often more portable across borders; a Chinese court may be faster and cheaper for purely domestic assets. The clause should be chosen with enforcement in mind, and we advise on both routes.

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.