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Practice area · China

Company Formation Lawyers in China

WFOE, JV, and foreign investment setup — listed counsel for market entry.

77+listed lawyers
5sub-specialties
Freeinitial consultation
ENEnglish directory

Overview

Practice orientation

Browse company formation lawyers for WFOE setup, joint ventures, M&A support, foreign investment review, and corporate governance. Entity choice, business scope, and negative-list restrictions still drive structure.

See our company formation guide and WFOE explainer.

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Legal context

Process, issues, and further reading

Typical market-entry path

  1. Confirm sector access under the foreign-investment negative list and any licensing regimes.
  2. Choose entity form (WFOE, JV, partnership, or RO) and draft scope of business carefully.
  3. Name pre-approval, registered capital plan, and legal representative / director appointments.
  4. SAMR registration, bank account, tax registration, and social-insurance onboarding.
  5. Post-setup: chops control, contracts, employment files, and ongoing compliance calendar.

Key PRC sources (illustrative)

  • Foreign Investment Law of the PRC (2019) — foreign investment treatment and negative-list framework.
  • Company Law of the PRC (rev. 2023, effective 2024) — capital contribution, governance, and director duties.
  • Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Market Entities — SAMR registration practice.

Deep dives: company formation guide · WFOE explainer · Doing Business in China.

Open full China Company Formation Law Guide →

Directory

Lawyers

Showing 7 of 77 lawyers

FAQ

Common questions

WFOE or joint venture?
WFOEs suit full control where the sector is open; JVs fit restricted sectors or strategic local partners. Map the negative list first.
Do these lawyers work with foreign clients?
Many listed counsel assist foreign businesses and individuals. Check languages on each profile and request an English consultation when available.
What does a consultation cover?
Usually a short case assessment, whether China is the right jurisdiction, and practical next steps. It is not full representation; terms vary by lawyer.
Common setup cities?
Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou are frequent; secondary cities fit manufacturing and logistics.

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