We are a firm uniquely integrated with and co-managed by multi-national professionals. HFG is proud of the highest standard and quality of service rendered with uncompromised understanding of the business interests of clients of a wide range of companies from all over the world.

HFG Law & Intellectual Property, also known as HFG IP, practices out of 3 offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin, effectively covering the economically active areas of China.

HFG integrates the IP contentious and non-contentious practice with commercial and corporate law services, providing one-stop solutions.

Collectively HFG can rely on a profound and diversified knowledge base and multi-lingual communication capability, and represents the clients at various levels before all the state-level agencies, administrative and judicial authorities.

HFG consists of three entities: HFG Law Firm, authorized by Ministry of Justice; HFG Intellectual Property Consulting Co. Ltd., recorded with China Trademark Office; and HFG Intellectual Property Agency Co. Ltd., licensed under the State of Intellectual Property Office for patents’ related practice.

HFG is recommended practice by Legal 500 since 2010 (No.1 in Shanghai) and by MIP, ranked in Chambers and Partners and WTR 1000. HFG has been selected as finalist in the category “IP Law Firm of the Year” for the Asian Legal Business Awards.

Among others HFG participate to the following associations: INTA, Marques, AIPPI, ACPAA, Shanghai Bar Association.

1. COMMERCE

China has become the most relevant market in the world in several industries. Companies strive to find and implement successful strategies to export and distribute their products/services.

Approaches to marketing and distributing goods/services in China can be hugely different: from wholesale to retail, from franchising to agency, from pure-licensing to private labeling, and many others.

In order to optimize business operations in China several issues and peculiarities of the Chinese law system should be factored. Some key examples being: anti-trust provisions, custom regulations, tax compliance, advertising regulations, IP protection and compliance and franchising regulations.

HFG Key services:

• Legal/administrative business model validation and ****ysis

• IP strategy for distribution

• Distribution and franchising agreements

• Franchising operations registration

• Advertising compliance validation

• Sales/OEM/Agency contract

2. LITIGATION/ARBITRATION

Litigation is a crucial area in HFG’s practice. When business operations reach a breaking point, it becomes the ultimate option to empower rights or to force the other party to negotiate.

Our vast experience ranges from commercial disputes, to credit collection, unfair competition, trade secret violation, property/evidence preservations, white collar crime, product liability/consumer protection, invention ownership, IP litigation.

Our team of are qualified to act as arbitrators and our services asssist clients in China before all Courts and arbitration commissions (CIETAC, SHIAC, etc.).

In specific cases – such as unfair competition, violation of corporate obligations/secrets, etc. – our investigating team can do preliminary intelligence activity aimed at (i) assessing the existence/extent of problems and (ii) collecting evidence to support litigation.

3. CORPORATE

Foreign investments in China are subject to a specific regulation, different from local investments.

People's Republic of China (PRC) authorities’ scrutiny and approval is required for most corporate transactions, from company set-up to Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), and from change of business scope to increase of registered capital. This means great legal and procedural burden.

Investments shall be carefully planned, as several unique peculiarities need to be considered: business scope limitations, RMB/forex convertibility, special custom regimes (processing trade, free trade zones, etc.) capital contribution obligations and options, tax implications, administrative procedures intersecting with each other.

HFG services

• Investment project legal/administrative validation and ****ysis

• Entitie set-up (WFOE, JV, Representative Office)

• M&A (domestic and cross border)

• Due diligence

• Liquidation of foreign investments

• Capital contribution through intangible (IP)

• Corporate ordinary operations

• Administrative problem solving (customs, SAFE/banks, AQSIQ, etc..)

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For all media, publications and directory enquiries, please email us at pr@hfgip.com