1. The original and a photocopy of the application form signed by the principal of the foreign law firm for establishing the representative office and designating relevant representatives are needed.
2. The original and a photocopy of the document that the foreign law firm has been legally established in its home country are needed.
3. The original and a photocopy of the partnership agreement of the foreign law firm or the originals of the articles of association and the list of principals and partners of the foreign law firm are needed.
4. The originals and photocopies of the authorization letter of the foreign law firm designating the chief representative and ordinary representatives for its representative office and the translation of the authorization letter are needed; the original and a photocopy of the confirmation letter that indicates the proposed chief representative is a partner of the foreign law firm or the original of the confirmation letter that indicates the proposed chief representative is a partner (or at an equivalent position) of the foreign law firm is needed.
5. The original and a photocopy of the lawyer's license of each proposed representative of the representative office of the foreign law firm are needed; the original and a photocopy of the document certifying that the proposed chief representative has practiced law outside China for no less than three years and the other proposed representatives have practiced law outside China for no less than two years are needed.
6. The original and a photocopy of the document issued by the lawyer association of the foreign law firm's home country that the proposed representatives of the foreign law firm's representative office are members of the lawyer association of that country are needed.
7. The original and a photocopy of the document issued by the lawyer association of the foreign law firm's home country that the foreign law firm and its proposed representatives have not been subject to criminal penalties and have not been punished for violating the professional ethics or discipline of lawyers are needed.
8. The original and a photocopy of the professional liability insurance document of each proposed representative are needed.
9. A photocopy of each proposed representative's identity document (passport) and the original and a photocopy of the Chinese translations of the identity documents are needed.
10. The original of the foreign law firm's application form for adding new representatives to its representative office in China and the original of the foreign law firm's application form for establishing (adding) a representative office in China are needed.
1. Office Hours
09:00-12:00, 13:30-17:00, working days {Extended hours: 09:00-13:00, Saturdays (except for national holidays; reservations are required)}
2. Methods and Locations
On-site processing: Government Service Center of Beijing Municipality: General Affairs Service Window, 2F, Zone B, No. 1 West Third Ring South Road (southwest corner of Liuliqiao), Fengtai District, Beijing; Government Service Center of Beijing Municipal Administrative Center: Zone 2 (southeast corner) (General Affairs Service Window), No. 48 Xinhua East Street, Tongzhou District, Beijing
Online processing: Please visit banshi.beijing.gov.cn
3. Processing Procedure
(1) Application acceptance: Five working days for acceptance
(2) Review and decision: 20 working days for decision
(3) Issuance and delivery: Four working days for certificate production and one working day for certificate issuance
4. Fees
No Charge
5. Implementation Authority
Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice
The application materials listed in items 1-8 shall be notarized by a notary public or notary in the applicant's country, certified by the competent diplomatic authority or by an authority authorized by the competent diplomatic authority of the applicant's home country, and certified by the Chinese Embassy (Consulates) in that country. All notarized and certified documents shall not be unsealed, otherwise they shall be re-notarized and certified.