China Group
Services to businesses investing in China
Taylor Wessing has offices in both Beijing and Shanghai: our Shanghai office having been set up in 1996, and the Beijing office being a recent addition to our Far East capability. Our combined teams offer wide-ranging experience in working with (Chinese and local language) Chinese companies doing business in Europe. Our bi-lingual team of experts in China provides the advice to assist our clients in making a success of their business in China.
We have a long-standing history in acting for Chinese companies wishing to invest in or raise money in Europe – it was in 1985 that we first advised a Chinese client in relation to its activities in Europe. As the leading European law firm in this area, we have seen rapid growth, and have assisted in setting up and advising scores of Chinese businesses to date.
Our unrivalled service is led by a team of locally qualified bi-lingual Chinese lawyers based in our offices in London, Paris and Frankfurt. They are supported by experienced lawyers specialising in the practice areas that are relevant to the needs of Chinese corporations when setting up and conducting business in Europe.
Areas of Expertise
- Chinese arbitration and conciliation
- Chinese investment in Europe
- Corporate restructuring in China
- Development of project concepts
- Due diligence in China
- Foreign investment in China
- Infrastructure in China
- Intellectual property in China
- Mergers & acquisitions in China
- Project financing in China
- Representative offices in China
- Taxation in China
- Trade issues
- Transport, maritime and shipping in China
- Turnkey projects in China
Services to Chinese businesses in Europe
Our service is provided by a team of locally qualified bi-lingual Chinese lawyers based in our offices in London, Paris and Frankfurt. They are supported by experienced lawyers specialising in the practice areas that are relevant to the needs of Chinese corporations when setting up and conducting business in Europe.
Our lawyers in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Beijing and Shanghai are fluent in Mandarin and, as such, are able to understand and communicate with our clients seamlessly. We offer a constructive, commercial, problem-solving approach, as well as a client-orientated service. Our partners take lead roles in every deal, and are supported by a team of associates and support staff, ensuring an efficient service delivered on time and on budget.
Our services
- Corporate / Commercial - Joint ventures; Mergers and acquisitions; IPOs (London Stock Exchange, AIM and the Official List in the UK, Paris Stock Exchange, Eurolist and Alternext in France and DAX Entry Standard in Germany); Regulatory advice to banks and insurance companies; Drafting distribution, agency and consultancy agreements, supply and manufacturing contracts; Setting up representative offices, branches and registered companies.
- Employment / Immigration - Appointment letters, employment contracts and handbooks; All aspects of the employment relationship including disciplinaries, grievances and sick employees through to restructurings, outsourcings and terminations; Benefits and stock options; All aspects of immigration from obtaining work permits through to termination.
- Intellectual Property / Technology - All forms of intellectual property including patents, copyright, trade marks, confidential information and data protection; Trade Mark filing and oppositions; Licensing and exploitation; Enforcement and defence of intellectual property rights including court proceedings; Regulatory issues including pharmaceutical, medical devices and data protection.
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution - All types of commercial litigation and arbitration including banking, energy, financial services, insurance/reinsurance, international trade and commodities, shipping, and construction and engineering; Mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution; Advising and representing clients in investigations by regulatory authorities; Multi-jurisdictional litigation.
- Real estate - Leases and serviced offices; Building acquisitions; Bank financings; Environmental and planning regulations.
- Tax and Tax planning - All aspects of tax including the interrelationship between the European tax regime and the Chinese tax regime.
Our clients
Our clients include some of the largest companies in China involved in energy, manufacturing, trading, banking, investment, insurance, technology, chemicals, biotech and pharmaceuticals, supply and logistics, distribution and agency, leisure and retail.
Trusted advisers
Our local knowledge, legal experience and track record in domestic and international transactions provide us with a comprehensive appreciation of the different issues involved in doing business with Chinese corporations. The combined skills of our lawyers enable us to provide innovative solutions, drawing on our experience across different cultures as well as many sectors and legal disciplines.