The Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District FTZ Pilot Zone. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
The Fujian Provincial Department of Justice has launched a pilot program in Xiamen that allows law firms to hire foreign lawyers as legal consultants.
This new program supports Xiamen, one of 28 national pilot cities and the only one in Fujian province for trade-in-service innovation, in deepening its development and foreign-related legal services.
Eligible entities are partnership law firms approved by the provincial justice department and established in Xiamen (excluding branches).
Participating firms must have been established for more than three years and passed annual assessments in three years, employ at least 20 full-time lawyers, and possess strong foreign-related legal capabilities. Foreign lawyers must hold a valid overseas license, have at least two consecutive years of practice abroad, and have no record of violations.
Foreign lawyers may be engaged by domestic law firms as "foreign legal consultants" to advise clients on foreign laws, international treaties, and customary practices, and to collaborate with Chinese lawyers on cross-border legal services.
However, they are not permitted to handle Chinese legal matters. In addition, the number of foreign legal consultants at each firm shall generally not exceed 10 percent of the firm's Chinese practicing lawyers and shall be capped at 20.
This pilot program will help bring in international legal expertise, enhance Xiamen's service capabilities in areas such as cross-border investment, international trade, and foreign-related dispute resolution, and further improve the law-based business environment.
The Fujian Provincial Department of Justice has launched a pilot program in Xiamen that allows law firms to hire foreign lawyers as legal consultants.
As Xiamen continues to enhance its educational resources and international business environment, Achieve Xiamen International School (AXIS) has emerged as a key pillar of its international talent strategy.
