UK Company Formation and Corporate Services

Daniel Thompson assists Chinese companies with UK subsidiary formation, company registration, and ongoing corporate compliance from Primas Law in Manchester.

With 14 years of experience in corporate law, Daniel handles the full lifecycle of UK company establishment for Chinese parent companies. His work covers Private Limited Company incorporation at Companies House, shareholder and director structuring, share capital design, PSC register compliance, and ongoing statutory filing obligations. He also advises on corporate governance, board composition, and the UK Corporate Governance Code requirements applicable to larger subsidiaries.

Practice Focus

• ⚖️ Company incorporation — registering Private Limited Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships, and branch establishments at Companies House
• 📜 Corporate structuring — share class design, shareholder agreements, director appointments, and PSC register compliance
• 🛡️ Regulatory compliance — UK AML registration, money laundering compliance, data protection registration under UK GDPR, and Companies House filing obligations
• 💼 Bank account opening — assisting with UK business bank account applications, understanding know-your-client requirements for Chinese parent companies
• 🌐 Cross-border considerations — UK tax registration, VAT registration thresholds, transfer pricing documentation, and UK-China double taxation treaty application

Working Method

Daniel begins each engagement with a structured onboarding process that gathers the corporate documents needed from the Chinese parent company, identifies the optimal UK entity structure, and provides a timeline for completion. He manages the entire Companies House filing process, including the preparation of constitutional documents and statutory registers.

For Chinese parent companies, Daniel ensures that all filings reflect the ultimate beneficial ownership accurately and that the subsidiary's constitutional documents are aligned with the parent's governance requirements. He provides ongoing compliance calendar management to ensure that annual confirmation statements, accounts filings, and any change notifications are submitted on time.

Local Practice in Manchester

Manchester is a thriving commercial hub with a growing number of Chinese-owned businesses establishing their UK presence in the North of England. Primas Law's Manchester office provides Daniel with direct access to the city's business community and its entrepreneurial ecosystem. The firm has been recognized in the Legal 500 for its corporate and commercial work in the North West.

Professional Standards

Daniel is a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and a member of the Law Society's Company Law Committee. He contributes regularly to Primas Law's client publications on UK company law developments affecting international businesses.

Typical Client Matters

Daniel handles a regular flow of UK company incorporations for Chinese parent companies establishing their first UK presence. Each engagement begins with a consultation to determine the optimal entity type, share structure, and director composition. For most Chinese-owned subsidiaries, a Private Limited Company limited by shares is the appropriate vehicle, offering limited liability protection and a straightforward governance structure.

He manages the full incorporation process through Companies House, including the preparation of the memorandum and articles of association, the statement of capital and initial shareholdings, the register of persons with significant control, and the confirmation of the registered office address. He also handles the appointment of the first directors and company secretary, if required, and the preparation of the necessary director consents.

Post-incorporation, Daniel assists with the practical steps of establishing UK operations: opening a UK business bank account, registering for UK VAT if applicable, registering with the Information Commissioner's Office under UK GDPR, and ensuring compliance with the Companies Act filing requirements for annual confirmation statements and accounts.

Ongoing Compliance for UK Subsidiaries

Once a UK subsidiary is established, it must meet ongoing compliance obligations. These include filing annual confirmation statements confirming the company's details are correct, preparing and filing annual accounts with Companies House within nine months of the financial year end, maintaining statutory registers, and notifying Companies House of any changes to directors, shareholders, or registered office. Daniel provides a compliance calendar to every client and handles the annual filings on their behalf under a standing engagement.

Approach to Client Service

Daniel makes the UK company formation process straightforward for Chinese clients who may not be familiar with the English corporate legal framework. He provides a clear step-by-step guide at the outset, explaining each stage of the incorporation process and the documents required from the Chinese parent company. He handles all communications with Companies House on the client's behalf, and he coordinates directly with Chinese counsel to obtain the necessary corporate authorizations and certified documentation.

After incorporation, Daniel provides a welcome package that includes the company's constitutional documents, a compliance calendar, and a guide to the ongoing obligations of a UK company. He offers a standing engagement for annual compliance management, ensuring that confirmation statements and accounts are filed on time and that the company's statutory registers remain accurate throughout the year.

Why Clients Choose to Work with This Office

Clients choose this practice because the team delivers clear, commercially focused guidance that reflects a genuine understanding of the international business environment. Every engagement begins with a detailed consultation to understand the client\u2019s specific objectives, risk tolerance, and timeline. Throughout the relationship, the team maintains open communication and provides practical recommendations that address both the legal requirements and the underlying business goals. This approach has earned the trust of a growing number of international clients seeking reliable counsel in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.