Locations Shanghai

Ashurst Shanghai Office

We are recognised as one of the leading firms in the market for large and complex transactions relating to China, both in terms of assisting foreign multinationals on China-related investments and assisting major Chinese investors (whether State-owned or private) on investments outbound. We also regularly advise top tier corporates on a wide range of employment matters in relation to their China operations, including investigations on non-compliances, employment termination, company policies/employee handbook and employee incentive schemes.

Ashurst and Guantao – two networks, one seamless service

In January 2018, Ashurst and Guantao launched the Joint Operation Office (JOO) in Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. The JOO is one of the few approved by the PRC authorities to-date. This is an unprecedented new model of co-operation in the Chinese legal market. Unlike the other few JOOs on the market today, our JOO is the only one between a major international law firm and a major domestic law firm. Guantao currently operates in almost all major commercial centres in China. For our clients in Greater China and across the world, the JOO means:

• Local PRC capabilities with international presence – the JOO provides multi-national clients with full PRC law capabilities, including dispute resolution in China. Our team of lawyers are experienced in helping both in-bound and out-bound China-related deals.
• Global network of expertise – through the JOO, clients have access to both Ashurst's and Guantao's global network and associated firms. Our teams leverage time zone differences to maximise the efficiencies of how we work on client deals.
• A single point of contact – a Mandarin fluent team will be set up to be your single point of contact to address your enquiries and needs regardless of practice, industry or jurisdictions.

The JOO offers an approach to clients from the Greater China region with interests overseas or clients with interests in the Greater China region. Ashurst is a full service law firm with offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States and experience of acting for clients throughout the world. Guantao Law Firm is a full service law firm with offices throughout the People’s Republic of China and experience of international transactions.

Our working style is based on close co-operation; a shared reputation for legal excellence and pragmatic, commercial promotion of our clients’ interests; and a team that works closely together in a literal sense: our respective Hong Kong offices are both located in the Central Business District of Hong Kong. Our relationship is managed on a day-to-day basis through our Hong Kong offices. We have regular meetings between our Asia-based partners and partners across practice areas are skilled at working together efficiently.

Both Ashurst and Guantao have lawyers fluent in English and Mandarin with experience of advising clients throughout the Greater China region and in other jurisdictions. Our expertise and knowledge of the law combined with an understanding of clients’ commercial objectives comes from experience of advising on domestic and international transactions across the world, so that clients can use our experience to their own advantages in any relevant market.