Shanghai eases operational procedures for foreign law firms

The State Council has approved a temporary adjustment in Shanghai to the implementation of certain provisions of the Regulations on Administration of Foreign Law Firms' Representative Offices in China . The move aims to make it easier for foreign law firm representative offices in Shanghai to manage operational matters.

Under the new arrangement, representatives of foreign law firm offices who change their practice office within Shanghai no longer need approval from the Ministry of Justice . Instead, approval will be handled by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice and then reported to the Ministry of Justice for the record.

The adjustment streamlines approval authority and is expected to improve processing efficiency for such office changes.

The approval also introduces more convenient arrangements for submitting certain supporting documents. When representatives change their practice office, documents proving that a proposed chief representative has practiced outside China for at least three years, and that other proposed representatives have practiced outside China for at least two years, can now be submitted through a notification-and-commitment system.

This means applicants may make a formal commitment that they meet the relevant requirements, reducing paperwork and accelerating the process.

The adjustment addresses the practical needs of foreign law firm representative offices in Shanghai. By optimizing approval procedures and simplifying document submission, it provides more convenient institutional arrangements for foreign law firms operating in the city.

(Sources: The State Council, VCG)

Source: Intl Services Shanghai