HFW obtains approval to open representative office in Qianhai, Greater Bay Area

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has been licensed to establish a representative office in Shenzhen Qianhai, a municipality in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This development further strengthens HFW’s presence in China and across Asia Pacific, and will become the firm’s seventh office in the region, and the 21st office globally.

HFW is one of only five foreign law firms, and the only UK-headquartered international law firm, that has been given approval to set up a representative office in the GBA by the Ministry of Justice of China, after a review consistent with the Regulations on Administration of Foreign Law Firms’ Representative Offices in China.

This office approval comes after a number of lawyers from HFW’s Hong Kong office passed the GBA Legal Qualification Examination and received their practising certificates in 2022, enabling them to advise on commercial matters in the nine Pearl River Delta municipalities in the GBA.

Justin Sun, Partner of HFW, and the Chief Representative of HFW Qianhai office:

“We are delighted with the MOJ’s approval to set up an official representative office in Shenzhen Qianhai. This illustrates HFW’s commitment to the region and is an important step in the continued expansion of the services that we are able to offer to our clients. With Hong Kong, Macau, and nine other most developed cities in the region, the GBA offers great access to China’s huge domestic market and serves as an important link to the international market, which unlocks new growth for international law firms like HFW.”

HFW has been committed to staying at the forefront of the legal development of the GBA, China’s international innovation and technology hub, since the establishment of its development plan in 2019.

This year marks the 45^th anniversary of HFW opening an office in Hong Kong and 24 years since HFW established an office in Shanghai. In 2016, HFW became only the second international law firm to establish a formal association with a Chinese firm under the Shanghai FTZ rules, with Wintell & Co.

HFW has more than 75 lawyers in Greater China, including 20 partners, and is a market leader in aviation, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance, shipping, commercial litigation, international arbitration, corporate and finance.