Foreign Law Firms in China – 2012 Listings

Feb. 7 – Foreign law firms practicing China law, and advising clients on the same, must be registered and licensed by China’s Ministry of Justice, which also acts as the regulatory body. As of December 31, 2011, there were 208 licensed foreign law offices in China – please find the complete list below. A detailed list (in Chinese) is also provided by the Ministry of Justice on their official web site, you can view the list by clicking here.

Contents include the name of the firm, its country of origin, the date the China license was issued, and the firm’s web site (when applicable). We recommend for legal indemnity, legal insurance, and regulatory issues that foreign companies in China only use the services of China-registered practices.

Foreign firms authorized by the Chinese Ministry of Justice have to go through a rigorous application process, including capitalization of their China offices, a strict overview of their international competencies and thorough vetting procedures including legal references as to their suitability and good standing from the regulatory body in their own country.

Overseas law firms advising on matters of China law who are not registered with the Ministry of Justice are not authorized by the Chinese regulatory authorities to do so. The consequences of this can obviously be serious, in terms of the legitimacy of advice given, legal insurance considerations and misrepresentation issues.

(Readers may note that Dezan Shira & Associates, the owners of China Briefing, are a tax practice and therefore do not appear on this list)

Foreign Law Firms in China (December 31, 2011)

Beijing representative offices

• Allens Arthur Robinson Beijing Representative Office (Australia)
• Lin Tang & Co. Lawyers Beijing Representative Office (Australia)
• Mallesons Stephen Jaques Beijing Office (Australia)
• Minter Ellison Lawyers, Beijing Representative Office (Australia)
• Beijing Representative Office of Dewit Law Office (Belgium)
• Duarte Garcia .Caselli Guimaraes E Terra Law Firm Beijing Representative Office (Brazil)
• Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Beijing Representative Office (Canada)
• Adamas Beijing Office (France)
• DS Law Firm, Beijing Representative Office (France)
• Gide Loyrette Nouel Beijing Office (France)
• UGGC & Associes Beijing Representative Office (France)
• Beiten Burkhardt Beijing Office (Germany)
• Taylor Wessing Beijing Representative Office (Germany)
• Chiomenti　Studio　Legale　Beijing　Representative Office (Italy)
• Anderson　Mori　&　Tomotsune　Beijing　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Mori　Hamada　&　Matsumoto　Beijing　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Nishimura　&　Asahi　Beijing　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Soga　Uryu　&　Itoga　Law　P.C.　Beijing　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Takai　Okazeri　Law　Firm　Beijing　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Bae, Kim & Lee LLC Beijing Representative Office (Korea)
• Lee & Ko Beijing Representative Office (Korea)
• Shin & Kim Beijing Representative Office (Korea)
• De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek Beijing Office (Netherlands)
• Wongpartnership LLP Beijing　Representative　Office　(Singapore)
• Uria　Menendez　Abogados　SLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(Spain)
• Wenfei　Attorney　at　Law　Ltd.　Beijing　Representative　Office　(Switzerland)
• Allen　&　Overy　LLP Beijing　Office　(UK)
• Clifford　Chance　LLP Beijing　Representative Office (UK)
• CMS　Cameron　McKenna LLP Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• DLA　Piper　Uk　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Freshfields　Bruckhaus　Deringer　Beijing　Representative Office　(UK)
• Herbert　Smith　LLP　Beijing　Office　(UK)
• Linklaters　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Lovells　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Norton　Rose　LLP　Beijing　Office　(UK)
• Pinsent　Masons　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Reed Smith LLP Beijing Representative Office　(UK)
• Salans　Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Slaughter　And　May　Beijing　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Andrews Kurth LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Baker Botts LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Baker & Daniels LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Baker & McKenzie LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Chadbourne & Parke LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Covington & Burling LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Davis Polk & Wardwell Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Dechert LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Frederick W. Hong Law Offices, Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Garvey Schubert Barer Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Goulston & Storrs, P.C. Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Holland & Knight LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Hunton & Williams LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Jones　Day　Beijing　Representative　Office (USA)
• Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Latham & Watkins LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Loeb & Loeb LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Morrison & Foerster LLP Beijing Office (USA)
• O’Melveny & Myers LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Perkins Coie LLP, Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Shearman　&　Sterling　LLP Beijing　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Sidley Austin LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Beijing Representative Office (USA)
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher　&　Flom LLP Beijing Representative Office　(USA)
• Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP Beijing Office (USA)
• Steptoe　&　Johnson　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office (USA)
• Sullivan　&　Cromwell　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Vinson　&　Elkins　Beijing　Representative　Office (USA)
• Weil, Gotshal &　Manges　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(USA)
• White　&　Case　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Wilmer　Cutler　Pickering　Hale　and　Dorr　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Winston　&　Strawn　LLP　Beijing　Representative　Office　(USA)

Shanghai representative offices

• Allens　Arthur　Robinson　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Australia)
• Ausino　Lawyers　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Australia)
• Blake　Dawson　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Australia)
• Hunt　&　Hunt　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Australia)
• Mallesons　Stephen Jaques　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Australia)
• Minter　Ellison　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Australia)
• De　Wolf　&　Partners　Law　Firm　LLCC　Shanghai　Repre-Sentaive　Office　(Belgium)
• Felsberg　E　Associados　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Brazil)
• Noronha　Advogados　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Brazil)
• Adamas　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(France)
• Alkea　Societe　D’avocats　Shanghai　Representative　Office (France)
• Bignon　Lebray　&　Associes　Shanghai　Representative　Office (France)
• Cms　Bureau　Francis　Lefebvre　Shanghai　Representative　Office (France)
• DS　Law　Firm　Shanghai　Representative　Office (France)
• Gide　Loyrette　Nouel　Shanghai　Representative　Office (France)
• Lefevre　Pelletier　&　Associes　Shanghai　Represen-Tative　Office　(France)
• Beiten　Burkhardt　Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft　MBH　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Germany)
• CMS　Hasche　Sigle　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Germany)
• Graf　Von　Westphalen　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Germany)
• Peltzer　Suhren　German　Attorneys　at　Law　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Germany)
• Rodl　Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft　Steuerberatungsgesellschaft　MBH　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Germany)
• Schindhelm　Attorney　at　Law　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Germany)
• Schulz　Noack　Barwinkel　German　Attorneys　at　Law　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Germany)
• Taylor　Wessing　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Germany)
• Chiomenti　Studio　Legale　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Italy)
• Negri　Clementi　Toffoletto　Montironi　&　Soci　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Italy)
• Studio　Legal　Picozzi　&　Morigi　Shanghai　Represen-Tative　Office (Italy)
• Bridgeroots　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Japan)
• Cast　Law　P.C.　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Fullerene　Legal　Profession　Corporation　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Kuroda　Law　Offices　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Mori　Hamada　&　Matsumoto　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Nobuo　Takai　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Oh-Ebashi　Law　Offices　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Soga　Uryu　&　Itoga　Law　P.C.　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• TMI　Associates　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Japan)
• Bae　Kim　&　Lee　LLC　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Korea)
• Deryook　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Korea)
• Jisung　Horizon　(Jipyung)　Law　Group　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Korea)
• Shin　&　Kim　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Korea)
• Holthuis　International　Lawyer　Shanghai　Represen-Tative　Office　(The　Netherlands)
• Wikborg　Rein　&　Co.　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Norway)
• Kelvin　Chia　Partnership　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Singapore)
• Rajah　&　Tann　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Singapore)
• Rodyk　&　Davidson　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Singapore)
• Wongpartnership　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Singapore)
• Cuatrecasas　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Spain)
• Herrero　Advocats　International　S.L.　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Spain)
• J&A　Garrigues　S.　LP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Spain)
• Rebollo　Abogados　Asociados　SLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Spain)
• Advokatfirman　Vinge　KB　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Sweden)
• Mannheimer　Swartling　Advokatbyra　AB　Shanghai　Representative　Office (Sweden)
• Bonnard　&　Lawson　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(Switzerland)
• Allen　&　Overy　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Barlow　Lyde　&　Gilbert　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Clifford　Chance　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• DLA　Piper　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Eversheds　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Freshfields　Bruckhaus　Deringer　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Herbert　Smith　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Holman　Fenwick　&　Willan　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Ince　&　Co.　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Linklaters　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Lovells　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Norton　Rose　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Pinsent　Masons　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Salans　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• SJ　Berwin　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (UK)
• Afridi　&　Angell　Legal　Consultants　Shanghai　Representative　Office (The　United　Arab　Emirates)
• Armstrong　&　Teasdale　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Baker　&　McKenzie　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Benesch　Friedlander　Coplan　&　Aronoff　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Bryan　Cave　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Clausen　Miller　P.C.　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Davis　Wright　Tremaine　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Debevoise　&　Plimpton　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Diaz　Reus　&　Targ　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Dorsey　&　Whitney　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Faegre　&　Benson　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Finnegan　Henderson　Farabow　Garrett　&　Dunner　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Foley　&　Lardner　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Fredrikson　&　Byron　P.A.　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Fried　Frank　Harris　Shriver &　Jacobson　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Greenberg　Traurig　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Jones　Day　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Kaye　Scholer　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Keller　&　Heckman　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Kirkland　&　Ellis　International　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Kirkpatrick　&　Lockhart　Preston　Gates　Ellis　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Latham　&　Watkins　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Michael　S.　Yu　A　Law　Corporation　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Miller　Canfield　Paddock　&　Stone　LLP Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Morrison　&　Foerster　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Nixon　Peabody　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• O’Melveny　&　Myers　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Orrick　Herrington　&　Sutcliffe　LLP　Shanghai　Repre-Sentative　Office　(USA)
• Paul　Hastings　Janofsky　&　Walker　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Perkins　Coie　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Pillsbury　Winthrop　Shaw　Pittman　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Quarles　&　Brady　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Shearman　&　Sterling　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Sheppard　Mullin　Richter　&　Hampton　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Skadden　Arps　Slate　Meagher　&　Flom　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Squire　Sanders　&　Dempsey　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Sidley　Austin　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Stein　Shostak　Shostak　Pollack　&　O’　Hara　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Troutman　&　Sanders　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• Vinson　&　Elkins　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Wang　&　Wang　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Weil　Gotshal　&　Manges　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)
• White　&　Case　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Wilson　Sonsini　Goodrich　&　Rosati　P.C.　Shanghai　Representative　Office　(USA)
• Winston　&　Strawn　LLP　Shanghai　Representative　Office (USA)

Guangdong representative offices

• Ds　Law　Firm　Guangzhou　Representative　Office　(France)
• Lefevre　Pelletier　&　Associes,　Avocats (France)
• Rodl　Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft　Steuerberatungsgesellschaft　MBH　Guangzhou　Representative　Office　(Germany)
• Net　Craman　Abogados　Asociados, S.L. Guangzhou　Representative　Office　(Spain)
• Christine　Lee　&　Co.　(Solicitors)　Limited　Guangzhou　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Wragge　&　Collp　Guangzhou　Representative　Office　(UK)
• Lerner　David　Littenberg　Krumholz　&　Mentlik　LLP　Guangzhou　Representative　Office (USA)
• Prederick　W. Hong　Law　Office　Guangzhou　Representative　Office (USA)

Liaoning representative offices

• Amemiyamasaya　Law　Office　Shenyang　Representative　Office　(Japan)
• Hoenzaka　Law　Firm　Dalian　Representative　Office　(Japan)
• Dong　Bao　Lawyer　Office　Shenyang　Representative　Office (Korea)

Tianjin representative offices

• Chang　&　Cote　LLP　Tianjin　Representative　Office (USA)
• Wu　&　Kao　PLLC　Tianjin　Representative　Office　(USA)

Fujian representative offices

• Christie　Kim　Professional　Law　Corporation　Xiamen　Representative　Office (USA)

Dezan Shira & Associates are a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing legal establishment, tax, accounting and related business advisory services in China. The firm has assisted a number of foreign law firms establish operations in China and maintains twelve offices in China, including Hong Kong. To contact us, please email china@dezshira.com or visit our web site at www.dezshira.com.