CHINA LAW OFFICE

The Chinese Commercial Dispute Resolution Lawyers

20 Years of PRC Legal Practice in Mainland China & Hong Kong

1. In Brief

China Law Office is a foreign law firm registered in Hong Kong for more than 10 years. Its Chinese law practice, however, dates back to 1987 when we lawyers practice the Chinese law with the China Legal Service (HK) Ltd. China Law Office solely specializes in practicing the law of the People’s Republic of China(the “PRC”), and is registered annually both with the PRC Ministry of Justice in Beijing and with The Law Society of Hong Kong in Hong Kong. China Law Office currently has 5 partners, all of whom are China-born/educated Hong Kong Permanent Identity card holders, around 10 lawyers and paralegals (For official verifications, please see The Law Society of Hong Kong – The Law List 2006, on Page 436 for China Law Office & on Page 479 for Mr. ZHANG, Guohua/Jason, Partner; or see The Law Society of Hong Kong website of http://www.hklawsoc.org.hk/).

2. Unique China Background & Commercial Law Practice

Under the umbrella of the PRC Ministry of Justice, the firm has established good working relationships with quite a number of Mainland Chinese intermediate and high courts as well as the Supreme People’s Court / procuratorates / public security bureaus as well as governments at provincial/municipal levels, which are greatly helpful to our efficient communications and justice. As a commercial foreign law firm headquartered in Hong Kong with 3 liaison offices in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, the firm, in accordance with the Foreign Lawyers Practice Rules and the Foreign Lawyers Registration Rules as issued by the Law Society of Hong Kong, carries professional insurance to cover claims of malpractice. Having studied and worked for years in western countries and in Hong Kong, we lawyers understand how to work well with Hong Kong/international clients.

3. Professional Fees, Disbursements and Free Assessments of Cases

We charge our professional fees either (1) by the working hour $3,500 (equivalent to US$450), applicable to issues of legal opinions and general enquiries/meetings as well as the time-predictable legal matters; or (2) by a mutually agreed-upon percentage of the money to be recovered for our clients on successful basis, applicable to those time-consuming & time-unpredictable ADR(i.e. negotiation, conciliation & arbitration) and litigation cases, under such circumstances of (2) we may also charge minor initial professional fees with consents by clients. All legal matters or cases, regardless of their difficulties, are treated equally with complimentarily/freely preliminary assessments or reviews so that we may evaluate likelihood of success and make the best strategies. Regarding the out-of-pocket disbursements to be reasonably paid for the traffic(of y-class flights, trains, boats, taxis, and other transportations), accommodation(of 4-star hotels), corporate searches(to be paid to the corporate management authorities), courts(of 1st instance, 2nd instance and for enforcement of judgments / arbitration awards), translations(to be paid to the outside translation agencies), notarization/endorsement(applicable to the Hong Kong or overseas documents) and the likes, we invoice separately to and seek reimbursements from clients.

4. Harmonious Co-operation with All Solicitors

In association with China Legal Service (HK) Limited, which is the “window” company of the PRC Ministry of Justice, we have access to 300-strong China Appointed-Attesting Officers(note: super-majorities of whom are Hong Kong solicitors) who specialize in notarizing/endorsing Hong Kong issued corporate/individual documents to be legally used/admitted in Mainland China. China Law Office is familiar to most Hong Kong law firms and their senior solicitors who do not practice PRC jurisdiction law and therefore are always enjoying non-competitive cooperation with us (the solicitors’ firms include but not limited to: Baker McKinney, Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Herbert Smith, Richard Butlers, Johnson Stokes & Masters, Simmons & Simmons, Deacons). Our 20 years of providing PRC legal services to the Hong Kong holding companies, either directly or via our friendly co-operation with Hong Kong solicitors, have provided us with long-term relationships and excellent references.

5. Legal Presentations and Clients Representation

We are at intervals invited to make presentations to the Hong Kong solicitors and companies on Mainland China law as sponsored by The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, Singapore Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Enterprises Association, Key Media, Hong Kong Directors Association and local universities. Our long-term co-operation with Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and representation of international background companies from Japan(incl. a leading lease finance company), UK, Singapore, India and the USA(incl. a leading fast food company and a well-known petroleum company) has supported us to maintain/expand our practice. Our connection with the PRC Ministry of Justice has provided us with access to their branch bureaus throughout the country, plus our decades of successful cooperation with quite a number of local firms/lawyers in many provinces and cities(note: the cooperative lawyers’ professional fees are normally included in our lump work fees), resulting in a nationwide cooperative network of lawyers. Those allow us to provide clients with Mainland China legal assistance in almost every Chinese province and city.

6. Focusing Practice Areas – the Commercial Dispute Resolution

In recent years, we have been handling tough cases focusing on (1) commercial dispute resolutions via alternative dispute resolution(i.e. the ADR) and litigation regarding loan recoveries, money claims, guarantees / mortgages / legal charges, properties, land use rights, construction, lease finance, contracts, intellectual property infringement, torts, employment, international trade, foreign investment enterprises, enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards; (2) mergers and acquisitions, transfer of shares, foreign direct investment(i.e. the FDI), representative office; and (3) due diligence. As commercial dispute resolution PRC lawyers , we lawyers travel to Mainland China almost every week for diversified clients and cases in different Chinese provinces and cities.

7. Team Work

China Law Office has traditions of team work, and in general two lawyers are jointly responsible for a client/each case. Mr. ZHANG, Guohua(“Jason”), as main contactor of the firm, has handled hundreds of Hong Kong/international clients’ commercial dispute cases in the past ten years. Jason’s secretary of Miss Ivy WONG is available between 9am to 6:00pm at +852 2594 0756 (office). In the alternative, please contact Jason Zhang at: Jason.zhang@chinalegal.com.hk or +852 2594 0766(office) or +852 9150 7677 (mobile). China Law Office is located at: RM B2, 32/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong.