ALB对话中国领先律师事务所的管理者，希望了解“后疫情”时代中国律所国际化策略的变化、客户海外法律需求的演进，以及律所下一步的全球发展计划。
伴随“后疫情”时代中国企业出海热情高涨，中国律所也持续走出国门，设立新的境外办公室，或积极寻找境外合作伙伴，将服务触角延伸到中国企业所至的全球不同区域。
总部位于北京的德恒律师事务所在香港之外，目前共设立了11家境外办公室，其中老挝、东京、首尔三家办公室设立于2020年之后。德恒管理合伙人李忠律师告诉ALB，三家新办公室的选址一定程度上反映了疫情后中国律所在出海策略上的变化。
“疫情前，‘走出去’等投资业务主要以欧美为目的国；现在则明显转向东南亚、‘斯坦’国家、一带一路沿线国家、非洲、南美等地。”李律师说。
泰和泰律师事务所首席合伙人程守太律师也观察到了同样的变化。“受地缘政治格局变化影响，中国律所可能会更加重视东盟市场。此外，随着‘一带一路’ 深入推进，中国企业投资南亚、东南亚将在一段时间内成为律师服务的热点和重点。”
过去四年中，泰和泰先后开设了尼泊尔加德满都、泰国曼谷、老挝万象办公室，“为搭建泰和泰在南亚、东南亚地区的境外服务网络迈出了坚实步伐”。
大区域的转向之外，中国律所国际布局的地点选择也出现了一些细节上的变化。“在东南亚市场，布局新加坡、泰国之外，大家也在考虑印度尼西亚、马来西亚、菲律宾、越南、柬埔寨、老挝等地；在欧洲市场，中国律所开始热烈讨论匈牙利、波兰、塞尔维亚等中东欧国家；今年去考察中东地区的阿联酋、沙特，中亚地区的乌兹别克斯坦、哈萨克斯坦的律所也多起来。”程律师说。
而在境外布局速度上，他观察到：“中国推动建设开放型经济的方向没有变，因此中国律所的境外布局没有停歇，只不过更加谨慎。疫情后的第一二年，大家更多持观望态度，但是今年明显感觉到中国律所境外布局的步伐在加快。”
广悦律师事务所主任杨杰律师也感受到了这种“加速”——2020年以来，该所已经先后设立了曼谷、洛杉矶、悉尼、东京四家办公室。
“疫情前，受制于多种因素，中国律所的国际化步伐相对较慢；而目前，中国律所都在不断加速推进国际化进程，通过直接投资、联盟、合作等形式，在亚洲、北美、欧洲等地区设立新的办事处，扩大境外布局。”杨律师观察到。
在此过程中，他指出，中国律所境外布局的模式也愈发灵活了，“更加注重创新，探索出了品牌授予、合伙人参与境外办公室管理、境外联盟等新模式”。
团队是关键
境外布局模式的创新，也一定程度体现在境外办公室人员的组成之中。
程守太律师告诉ALB，中国律所境外办公室的人员群体通常分为三类。“第一类是本国国籍和拥有本国律师执照的本地员工；第二类是在当地留学并考取了律师执照的华人；以前中国律所在境外的分支机构主要由这两类群体组成。”
而现在，“我们正在探索强化第三类群体——即由中国律所直接派驻到境外办公室的律师。他们的优势在于更熟悉国内的客户需求、服务习惯和国内律所的管理方式，由他们联合本地律师展开合作，更能为中国企业‘走出去’提供一站式服务”。
“疫情前，中国律所的国际化步伐相对较慢；而目前，中国律所都在不断加速推进国际化进程，通过直接投资、联盟、合作等形式设立新的办事处，扩大境外布局。”
- 杨杰，广悦律师事务所
程律师举了曼谷办公室的例子，“曼谷现在有我们从国内派驻过去的律师。伴随企业境外经济活动的高速发展，中国企业‘走出去’发展到了第二阶段，在当地会有更深入的投资运营，也会派驻更多的中国团队前往当地，我们从国内派驻的律师能更好地满足这部分客户群体的思维和经营活动习惯”。
实际上，是否有业务、理念和律所相契合的合伙人主导开拓境外市场，在中国律所决策开设境外办公室过程中扮演了重要角色。“人才是硬道理，只有具备合适的团队，我们才可能在新的地方开设分支机构。”德恒的李忠律师坦言。
有时这样的人才资源来自海外当地，但更多时候，这样的资源依托于律所内部。以德恒新设的老挝、东京、首尔办公室为例，“是因为德恒体系内有多位愿意被派驻到当地、并以双语展开工作的人员。我们有两位曾在日韩学习工作多年的同事，正是他们牵头做起了东京和首尔办公室；在老挝也同样如此——我们有两位愿意从北京、南宁被派驻到当地牵头业务的同事”。
伴随中国企业海外运营的深入，李律师也观察到境外办公室不同类型人员相配搭、为中国企业提供更贴合的服务的重要性。“一方面，我们需要有本地律师提供当地法律支持；另一方面，也需要有内地律师作为桥梁，在客户和本地律师之间起到协调、沟通的作用。后者至关重要，有时沟通甚至占到整个法律服务项目一半以上的时间。”
当然，也存在一些“幸运的例外”，李律师告诉ALB，例如在德恒香港办公室，因为有具备内地背景、但在香港执业的律师，就可以独自兼顾服务和沟通的角色。
对此，程守太律师也深有感触。“我们很看重华人留学后在当地执业的律师，他们对中国的国情和文化更加认同。我们是一家从中国走向世界的律所，必须坚持中国立场。泰和泰从2015年设立华盛顿办公室，再到悉尼、曼谷、万象，我们的境外办公室负责人都是华人背景。”
不同类型人员的配搭能够帮助中国律所境外办公室保持“中国根基”，同时提高服务效率，但泰和泰坦言，这也会带来人员磨合的挑战。“律师们来自不同地域，有着不同的文化、工作习惯，需要一段时间来进行磨合，才能达成良好高效的工作机制。”他说。
机会与挑战
境外办公室的设立让中国律所的涉外服务内容更多元、重大项目的参与程度也更加深入。
“过去，境外办公室以服务中国企业海外投资、设立当地合资企业等为主；有了境外办公室后，我们可以持续服务于中国企业落地后的当地经营，内容以合规、争议解决为主。”
- 李忠，德恒律师事务所
杨杰律师告诉ALB，如今广悦的境外办公室集中服务于客户的跨境投资、企业出海、民商诉讼、企业商法、知识产权、移民签证等新需求，“2023年，广悦总所还联合曼谷办公室，为头部新能源汽车制造企业在泰国投资及建厂提供了全流程服务，协助该头部企业在泰顺利落地”。
李忠律师则感受到境外办公室服务内容的变化。“过去，境外办公室以服务中国企业海外投资、设立当地合资企业等为主要内容，服务在交易完成后就结束了；有了境外办公室后，我们可以持续服务于中国企业落地后的当地经营，内容以合规、争议解决为主，本地化业务在增加。我们在香港、东京、首尔、老挝等地都拥有了越来越多本地客户。”
另一类持续增加的服务内容则是来自境外的“反哺业务”。李律师解释道：“境外客户有时会对中国法律服务产生需求，继而回传到德恒各家内地办公室。境外办公室从原来单纯服务于国内客户‘走出去’，现在更多起到双向桥梁的作用。”
在服务内容和半径不断扩大的情况下，泰和泰也感受到了境外办公室在业务层面所面临的挑战，尤其是“如何为客户提供全方面的一站式法律服务”。
“‘走出去’的中国企业越来越倾向于聘请能理解中国企业真实需求和痛点的中国律所和涉外律师，提供跨语言、跨法域服务。但有时，刚刚设立的境外办公室所覆盖的服务范围不广，而中国企业在‘走出去’过程中，除了公司的投资设立，也会延伸出劳动人事、知识产权等一系列法律需求，中国律所需要同时提升国内涉外管理团队和国外本地律师的业务线覆盖问题。”程守太律师分享道。
此外，中国律所的境外服务也面临着一些实务层面的挑战。“例如时差。境外办公室主要服务的还是国内客户，如何解决时差问题、满足客户的及时响应需求，值得深入探索。”
“还有来自不同文化和语言背景的挑战，有时甚至可能延宕合作项目的平稳推进。比如那些需要交换、审核成堆法律文件的业务，审核人员对于文件中行文用语的翻译与理解、加之不同法域甚至法系的专业术语概念差别，都是我们在境外办公室协作过程中常常出现又必须谨慎处理的法律实务。”程律师补充道。
香港的角色
过去两年，香港基于其普通法系以及联通国际的地位，继续在中国律所的国际化布局中扮演重要角色。
根据香港律师会网站数据，截至今年7月初，共有31家中国内地律所在香港注册为外地律师行，此外还有15家内地律所分支机构在香港完成了本地化。
未来，“在香港的本地化进程依然是中国律所看中的方向”，程守太律师如此说。
在香港，根据当地法规要求，外地律所需要与本地律所展开三年以上联营后方可申请本地牌照。这样的规定虽然有一定的限制性，但在联营阶段，不同法系、背景的律师展开磨合，不同管理风格的律所寻求共识，实际上对于中国律所未来探索更多境外合作提供了某种“练习”，或者说范本。
2023年3月，德恒在三年联营后取得了香港本地牌照。德恒香港合伙人梁百合律师告诉ALB，其实在初识早期和联营阶段，德恒与此前的钟氏律师事务所一直保持着紧密的业务联系，双方在业务领域上十分契合、相互借力，使得德恒香港正式落地后，迅速在本地市场建立起三个优势业务板块。
“一是资本市场业务板块，团队共有约50人、6位合伙人，已经在香港中资律所中拥有第一梯队的业务水平和市场地位；二是争议解决业务板块，协助本地客户完成了一系列具有影响力的案件。”梁律师说。
“香港对中国律所布局全球的重要性，和香港对于中国的重要性是密不可分的。强有力的香港布局也能够帮助内地律所有效提升国际化形象。”
- 梁百合，德恒律师事务所
第三是梁律师本人带领的境外债发行板块，目前有一支超过30人的团队，2023年全年以及2024年迄今都是香港市场排名第一的中国地方城投债国际律师团队。
谈到香港办公室在德恒国际化发展中扮演的角色，梁律师指出：“香港对中国律所布局全球的重要性，和香港对于中国的重要性是密不可分的。中国客户在考虑国际化发展和开拓国际业务时仍然会首选香港，很多中资机构的海外分支机构中最重要的也是香港公司。”
李忠律师坦言，近三年虽然有部分资金、人才、服务去了新加坡，“但是从客户数量、资本市场能力和规模来说，香港仍然远高于新加坡”。
因此，想要服务中国客户的“走出去”，香港是无法绕过的平台。此外梁律师指出，强有力的香港布局也能够帮助内地律所有效提升国际化形象。
“如果一家内地律所尚未开设香港办公室，或者香港的资本市场团队不够强大，客户对律所的信心也会打折扣；而如果内地律所拥有一支非常强劲的香港资本市场团队，就会带给客户足够国际化的品牌感受，因此香港办公室及其团队能力对于提升内地律所的整体形象非常有帮助。”她指出。
下一步计划
谈到下一步的国际化布局策略，受访律所表示将考量客户需求、律所资源、相关区域的未来发展前景，综合多种因素做出决策。
广悦的杨杰律师说，7月初，广悦刚刚在香港取得外地律师行牌照，下一步将在罗马、新加坡等地筹备设立办公室，因为“这些区域有着较强的经济增长潜力和稳定性”。
“香港国际化程度高，与内地联系紧密；罗马是意大利首都，拥有丰富的法律资源和人才储备，且意大利是欧盟成员国之一；新加坡是亚洲金融中心，拥有完善的金融体系和法律环境。这些区域拥有各自独特的优势和利好条件，将为广悦的业务发展提供有力支持。”杨律师介绍道。
李忠律师则告诉ALB，德恒将继续聚焦东南亚，“计划在新加坡、越南、马来西亚、印尼、泰国五个地区探索设立新的分支机构”，同时“也在考察英国伦敦”。
“‘一带一路’沿线涵盖了亚欧大陆和非洲的60多个国家，涉及基建、融资、法律保障、诉讼和仲裁等多个业务领域，自然成为了中国律所新的‘必争之地’。”
- 程守太，泰和泰律师事务所
程守太律师介绍道，下一步“泰和泰的总基调一定是在境内境外两条平行线展开布局，这和中国的发展国策一脉相承”。
“‘一带一路’沿线涵盖了亚欧大陆和非洲的60多个国家，涉及基建、融资、法律保障、诉讼和仲裁等多个业务领域，自然成为了中国律所新的‘必争之地’。泰和泰也非常重视这一历史机遇，会重点开展‘一带一路’沿线国家分支机构的设立工作。”
不过，泰和泰将延续相对保守的布局策略：“我们不会搞联盟，更希望依托于在国外的泰和泰律师，他们将秉承泰和泰的理念，继续深化加强国际合作，并在合适的时机进行布局。”程律师说。
GLOBAL MINDSET
Chinese law firms are adapting their global strategies in the post-pandemic era, responding to evolving client needs and shifting overseas expansion patterns. Leaders of top Chinese firms reveal new priorities, challenges, and opportunities as they navigate the changing landscape of international legal services in an increasingly interconnected world.
In the post-pandemic era, Chinese companies are showing a growing interest in international ventures, prompting Chinese law firms to expand their global footprint. These firms are establishing new offices and forging partnerships abroad to provide comprehensive legal services in regions where Chinese businesses are increasingly active.
DeHeng Law Offices, headquartered in Beijing, exemplifies this trend with its extensive international presence. The firm now boasts 11 overseas offices, complementing its Hong Kong SAR branch. Notably, DeHeng's offices in Laos, Tokyo, and Seoul were established after 2020. According to Frank Li, DeHeng's managing partner, the strategic locations of these new offices reflect the evolving overseas expansion strategies of Chinese firms in the post-pandemic landscape.
"Before the pandemic, China’s overseas investments mainly targeted Europe and the US. Now, there is a clear shift toward places such as Southeast Asia, 'Stan' countries, countries along the route of the 'Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)', Africa and South America," observes Li.
Cheng Shoutai, chief partner at Tahota Law Firm, has observed the same changes. "Affected by geopolitical reasons, Chinese firms start to pay more attention to the ASEAN market. Investment in South Asia and Southeast Asia is expected to remain one hot spot and focus area of legal services for a period of time."
Over the past four years, Tahota has opened offices in Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand), and Vientiane (Laos), "taking solid steps to build the firm's overseas services network in South Asia and Southeast Asia."
Apart from regional shifts, some changes can also be seen in the specific locations chosen by Chinese firms for their overseas outfits. "In the Southeast Asian market, in addition to Singapore and Thailand, firms are also considering Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. In the European market, Chinese firms have begun to more closely look at Hungary, Poland, Serbia and other Central and Eastern European countries. Further, this year, more and more Chinese firms have visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, as well as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in Central Asia," observes Cheng.
As to the speed of overseas expansion, Cheng notes that "Chinese firms have not stopped building up their overseas presence, although they have become more cautious. In the first two years after the pandemic, everyone was more on the sidelines, but this year it is obvious that Chinese firms are accelerating overseas expansion."
"At present, all Chinese firms are speeding up international expansion through direct investment, alliance, cooperation and other forms, to set up new offices in Asia, North America, Europe and other regions to expand overseas presence."
- Yang Jie, Wang Jing & GH Law Firm
Yang Jie, director of Wang Jing & GH Law Firm, has similarly felt this "acceleration.” Since 2020, the firm has opened four offices in Bangkok, Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo.
"At present, all Chinese firms are speeding up international expansion through direct investment, alliance, cooperation and other forms, to set up new offices in Asia, North America, Europe and other regions to expand overseas presence," says Yang.
During this process, he says that Chinese firms have also become more flexible with the model of their overseas presence by successfully exploring new models such as brand licensing, partner participation in overseas office management, and overseas alliance.
TALENT IS KEY
Innovation of the models for overseas presence is also reflected in overseas office staffing.
According to Cheng, an overseas office of a Chinese firm usually has three categories of employees. "The first category includes local employees holding citizenship and the lawyers' license of the host country. The second category includes those of Chinese descent who have studied in the host country and are qualified to practice law there. In the past, these two categories formed the majority of the staffing of the overseas offices of Chinese firms."
Now, "we are exploring ways to beef up the third category, i.e., lawyers who are directly sent by a Chinese firm to its overseas offices. These lawyers enjoy the advantage of being more familiar with domestic client needs, service habits and management styles. They can work with local lawyers to better provide one-stop services for Chinese companies venturing overseas.”
Cheng uses Tahota’s Bangkok office as an example. "We now have lawyers in Bangkok who are assigned there from the head office. Chinese companies have entered the second stage in their overseas expansion journey in which they will have more in-depth investment and operation overseas, and will send more Chinese staffs there. The lawyers we sent from the head office can better understand the thinking and business habits of this client group."
In fact, whether a firm has partners whose practice and philosophy are in line with its own to lead the local markets plays an important role in the decision-making process of Chinese firms opening offices overseas. "Having talents is the hard truth. Only with the right team can we open offices in new places," admits Li.
Sometimes such talents come from overseas markets, but more often, they need to come from within. Take DeHeng's new offices in Laos, Tokyo and Seoul as examples. "We are able to set up these offices because there are several colleagues in the DeHeng network who are willing to be sent there and work bilingually. We have two colleagues who have studied and worked in Japan and South Korea for many years. They are the ones who took the lead in setting up the Tokyo and Seoul offices. The same is true for Laos where we have two colleagues who are willing to be sent from Beijing and Nanning to lead local business development there."
As Chinese companies deepen overseas operations, Li has also observed the importance of staffing different types of personnel in overseas offices to provide more tailored services for Chinese companies. "On the one hand, we need local lawyers to provide local legal support. On the other hand, we also need Mainland lawyers as a bridge to coordinate and communicate between clients and local lawyers."
There are certainly some "fortunate exceptions.” According to Li, DeHeng's Hong Kong office, for example, boasts lawyers with Mainland background who are practicing in Hong Kong, and these lawyers can provide legal support and facilitate communication at the same time.
Tahota’s Cheng feels deeply about this too. "We value those of Chinese descent who practice locally after studying abroad. They have a better understanding of China's national circumstances and culture. We are a China-based firm that is expanding to the world and must adhere to the Chinese position. Whether it is our Washington office established in 2015, or the offices in Sydney, Bangkok and Vientiane that were established subsequently, the heads of all our overseas offices are all from the Chinese background."
While having different types of personnel can help maintain "Chinese roots" while improving service efficiency, Cheng admits that this arrangement will also bring challenges. "As lawyers come from different regions and have different culture and work habits, they need to take some time to integrate before a good and efficient work mechanism can be achieved," he says.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The establishment of offices overseas has diversified the cross-border services of Chinese firms and enabled them to have more in-depth participation in major projects.
"In the past, the overseas offices mainly served Chinese companies' needs for investing overseas and establishing local joint ventures. Now, with local offices, we can continue to serve the local operations of Chinese companies, focusing on compliance and dispute resolution."
- Frank Li, DeHeng Law Offices
Yang tells ALB that Wang Jing & GH's overseas offices now focus on serving clients' new needs for cross-border investment, corporate overseas expansion, civil and commercial litigation, intellectual property and immigration and visa maters. "In 2023, our head office worked with the Bangkok office to provide a full suite of services for a leading electric vehicle manufacturer to invest and build factories in Thailand, assisting that company to smoothly establish presence in the country."
Li, on the other hand, has felt changes in the services provided by overseas offices. "In the past, the overseas offices mainly served Chinese companies' needs for investing overseas and establishing local joint ventures, and services usually ended after transactions were completed. Now, with local offices, we can continue to serve the local operations of Chinese companies, mainly focusing on the areas of compliance and dispute resolution."
Another type of services that continues to rise is the "return business" from overseas. "Overseas clients sometimes have needs for Chinese law services and such needs will then go back to DeHeng's various Mainland offices. In other words, overseas offices have changed from simply serving the 'going global' needs of domestic clients to now acting more as a two-way bridge," explains Li.
As the offerings and coverage of service continue to expand, Tahota has also felt the challenges faced by overseas offices at the business level, in particular "how to provide clients with comprehensive, one-stop legal services.”
"Chinese companies increasingly favor Chinese firms and cross-border lawyers who can provide multi-lingual and cross-jurisdictional services. At times, however, the scope of services provided by newly established overseas offices is very limited. In contrast, when 'going global', Chinese companies have needs not only for investment and company establishment, but also for labor, human resources, IP and many others. Therefore, Chinese firms need to simultaneously expand the service coverage of cross-border management teams in their head offices and locally-hired foreign lawyers," says Cheng.
In addition, Chinese firms also face practical challenges in their overseas services. "Time difference is one example. Since overseas offices still mainly serve domestic clients, how to solve time difference and meet clients' demand for timely response worth further study."
"There are also challenges in terms of different cultural and language backgrounds. For example, some projects require the exchange and review of piles of legal documents. The translation and understanding of the wording used in these documents by reviewers, as well as the differences in technical terms and concepts used in different jurisdictions or even legal systems, are all practical legal issues that often appear and must be handled with care," says Cheng.
HONG KONG'S ROLE
In the past two years, Hong Kong has continued to play a key role in the international expansion of Chinese firms by virtue of its common law system and international hub status.
Data from the Law Society of Hong Kong website show that as of early July this year, a total of 31 Mainland firms have registered as foreign firms in Hong Kong, and 15 offices of Mainland firms have local practice licenses.
Going forward, "localization in Hong Kong remains the direction that Chinese firms value," says Cheng.
Hong Kong regulations stipulate that foreign firms must engage in joint venture operations with a local firm for at least three years before applying for a local license. While seemingly restrictive, this requirement serves a valuable purpose. It offers Chinese firms a crucial "trial period" to explore diverse forms of international collaboration.
During this time, lawyers from disparate legal systems and cultural backgrounds gain invaluable experience working together. Moreover, firms with varying management approaches have the opportunity to find common ground and develop synergies. This process not only facilitates smoother integration but also enhances the quality of legal services provided in the Hong Kong market.
DeHeng secured its local license in Hong Kong in March 2023, following a successful three-year joint venture period. Lily Liang, a partner at DeHeng's Hong Kong office, reveals that the firm had cultivated strong business ties with the former Chungs Lawyers from the outset of their collaboration. This relationship, characterized by complementary practice areas and effective teamwork, laid a solid foundation for DeHeng's rapid growth in Hong Kong. Consequently, upon formal establishment, DeHeng's Hong Kong office swiftly developed a strong presence in three key practice areas within the local market.
"The first is capital market. Our team has a total of 50 lawyers and six partners, and already enjoys tier-1 professional capabilities and market position among Chinese firms in Hong Kong in this area. The second is dispute resolution. We have assisted local clients in completing a series of influential cases," says Liang.
"The importance of Hong Kong to the global expansion of a Chinese firm is inseparable from the importance of Hong Kong to China. A strong Hong Kong market presence can also help Mainland firms effectively enhance their international image."
- Lily Liang, DeHeng Law Offices
The third key practice area is offshore bond issuance, spearheaded by Liang herself. DeHeng Hong Kong has assembled a dedicated team of over 30 professionals in this sector. Notably, the firm has established itself as the leading international legal advisor for Chinese local municipal investment bonds in the Hong Kong market, maintaining this top position throughout 2023 and into 2024.
Speaking of the role played by the Hong Kong office in DeHeng's international growth, Liang says: "The importance of Hong Kong to the global expansion of a Chinese firm is inseparable from the importance of Hong Kong to China. Chinese clients still pick Hong Kong as their first choice when considering international growth and expanding business overseas. The most important overseas offices of many Chinese institutions remain their Hong Kong companies."
Li admits that although some funds, talents and services have shifted to Singapore over the past three years, "in terms of client number, capital market capabilities and size, Hong Kong is still far ahead of Singapore.”
Therefore, for firms that want to serve Chinese clients in "going global,” Hong Kong is a platform that cannot be bypassed. Liang also points out that a strong Hong Kong market presence can also help Mainland firms effectively enhance their international image.
"If a Mainland firm has not yet opened an office in Hong Kong, or if its capital market team in Hong Kong is not strong enough, clients may only have subdued confidence in the firm. In contrast, if a Mainland firm has a very strong Hong Kong capital market team, it will give clients a sufficiently international brand experience. Therefore, the Hong Kong office and its team capabilities are pivotal in uplifting the overall image of a Mainland firm."
LOOKING AHEAD
When it comes to what lies ahead for their globalization strategies, the firms interviewed say they will consider client needs, internal resources and the future development prospects of relevant regions before making decisions.
Yang of Wang Jin & GH shares that the firm just obtained its foreign law firm license in Hong Kong in early July. The next step will be to prepare for the establishment of offices in places such as Rome and Singapore because "these places have strong economic growth potential and are very stable.”
"Hong Kong is highly internationalized and closely connected with the Mainland. Rome, being the capital of European Union member state Italy, boasts rich legal resources and a large talent pool. Singapore is an Asian financial centre with a sound financial system and legal environment. These places have their own unique advantages and favorable conditions, which will provide solid support for the firm's business development," says Yang.
According to Li, DeHeng will continue to focus on Southeast Asia. It "plans to explore the establishment of offices in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand,” and "is also considering London."
Tahota’s Cheng says that in the next stage, "we will simultaneously develop both domestic and international markets, which is in line with China's national development strategies.”
"The BRI covers more than 60 countries in Eurasia and Africa, involving infrastructure, financing, legal protection, litigation and arbitration and many other practice areas. These countries naturally become new 'must-win' destinations for Chinese firms."
- Cheng Shoutai, Tahota Law Firm
"The BRI covers more than 60 countries in Eurasia and Africa, involving infrastructure, financing, legal protection, litigation and arbitration and many other practice areas. These countries naturally become new 'must-win' destinations for Chinese firms. Tahota similarly will focus on exploring the establishment of offices in BRI countries."
However, the firm admits that it will continue its "relatively conservative" globalization strategy. "We will not form alliances. Instead, we hope to rely more on Tahota lawyers abroad who will uphold our philosophy, continue to deepen international cooperation, and make the right moves at the right time," says Cheng.