China desk

 

Hall & Wilcox has solid experience advising Chinese clients on aspects of doing business in Australia. We have staff members who speak fluent Mandarin. We understand the cultural and legal differences between doing business in China and in Australia.

Hall & Wilcox has long-term experience in undertaking complex cross-border transactions bridging legal, linguistic, and cultural differences in a manner that is beneficial to our clients.  We act for internationally known companies from all over the world, stock-exchange listed companies in Australia and overseas, and medium-sized companies conducting their business in Australia. We act for many of our Chinese clients as the Australian counsel.

Drawing on our significant experience, and our wide-ranging network of contacts, we facilitate our clients’ access to relevant local experts and improve the efficiency with which transactions are conducted.

Investments in China and Australia

China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner, accounting for around 28.8% of total trade in 2019-20 valued at AUD$251.2 billion. In recent years, there has been a boom in Chinese businesses seeking investment opportunities in Australia. China is Australia's sixth-largest direct investor. [1]

We also have strong links to independent international law firms, including many based in China, Hong Kong and Singapore, through our membership of international networks. We have strong tax structuring capabilities and established relationships with a number of accounting firms, many of which have offices outside Australia.

[1] Why Australia Benchmark Report 2021

International recognition

How we can help

We are a full service, independent business law firm with a reputation as a leading law firm across a number of core areas of practice and sectors.

Experience

We frequently act for overseas clients acquiring companies in Australia. In particular, we are able to advise on:

  • establishing the most appropriate legal structures for businesses;
  • international tax issues and tax structuring advice;
  • corporate restructures, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and divestments;
  • employment obligations and agreements;
  • compliance obligations of companies under the Australian Competition Law;
  • obtaining appropriate visas, immigration compliance, permanent residency and citizenship issues;
  • commercial agreements including franchise, distribution, supply and service agreements;
  • protection and licensing of intellectual property;
  • commercial agreements including franchise, distribution, supply and service agreements;
  • protection and licensing of intellectual property;
  • commercial and residential property transactions; and
  • whether any Australian regulatory compliance and approvals are required for a particular transaction and if so, obtaining those approvals.

We have assisted companies from Australia and China with expanding their businesses and developing business connections in each other’s countries, such as:

  • Worked on behalf of Shaunglin Automotive Parts Manufacturing Co on purchasing Australian and Chinese operations from Geely Holdings Group worth USD $500 million.
  • Acting as General Counsel for an international payments-based fintech start-up, including advising on some of the largest fintech fundraising rounds in Australia at the time from international investors such as MasterCard, TenCent Holdings, and Sequoia Capital China.
  • Assisting Chinese clients with business migration issues and applications for business visas.
  • Assisting a large Chinese developer in its series of acquisition of commercial properties in excess of AUD$500 million.
  • Negotiating an AUD$20 million acquisition by a high profile Chinese celebrity of a minority shareholding in an Australian organics business including drafting downstream Chinese distribution and marketing agreements.
  • Acting for clients in relation to international trademark applications designating China, including filing applications, liaising with Chinese associates, and advising clients on registrability and infringement issues.
  • Negotiated a multi-million dollar joint venturing investment by Intense Solar China into an Australian solar energy equipment R&D and manufacturing company, including negotiations of IP licenses, distribution and shareholder arrangements.
  • Acting for Dahua in its purchase of A$300 million acquisition of greenfields sites for development, together with the ongoing settlements of lots in the 64 hectares Dahua Tarneit ‘Orchard’ Community Development.
  • Negotiated an $80 million investment by major Chinese State-Owned Dairy Enterprise in investing in and joint venturing with an Australia dairy producer to build an infant formula manufacturing plant in regional Victoria and a five-year annual off-take agreement for infant formula into China worth in excess of AUD$1 billion.
  • Assisting Zheng He Securities, a Chinese based ASX Listed Company with its application for an Australian Financial Services Licence.
  • Assisting with the purchase of $60 million of Australian agricultural land for Dashang Group in New South Wales for cattle breeding.
  • Assisted with the negotiation of joint venture arrangements between ChinaAMC (a subsidiary of CITIC) and Azure in relation to the launch of an Australian-based China securities fund.
  • Acting in the sale of Loscam, an Australian based shipping pallet business, to China Merchants Group.
  • Acting for Chinese State-Owned Enterprise Wengfu (Group) Co. Ltd in its proposed acquisition of an Australian fertiliser distribution business.
  • Acting for a Chinese private real estate company in respect of its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange and the Deutsche Börse in Germany.
  • Assisting Chinese investors with the purchase and development of numerous housing projects in Melbourne.
  • Assisting a Chinese family business with acquiring a portfolio of buildings in the Melbourne CBD.

Key contact

Eugene Chen
Partner & Head of China Practice
    Fluent in Mandarin

Eugene advises Australian and Chinese clients on capital raising, funds management, licensing, anti-money laundering and more.

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  • Fluent in Mandarin

Ranny is a corporate and commercial lawyer with over 20 years' experience in international and domestic mergers and acquisitions.

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Mark has experience acting for Australian and overseas financial institutions, and leads the firm's Banking and Finance practice.

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Alison Choy Flannigan
Partner & Co-Lead, Health & Community

Alison specialises in advising clients in the health, aged care, disability, life sciences and community sectors. 

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Deborah is a leading commercial transaction lawyer with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets.

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  • Fluent in Cantonese | Mandarin

Property & projects lawyer Joey specialises in property development and property-related foreign investments.

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  • Fluent in Mandarin

Sining is a commercial disputes lawyer experienced in dealing with English/Chinese bilingual negotiations and litigation cases.

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Our team

    Fluent in Mandarin

Joy-Yi is a corporate & commercial lawyer experienced in private M&A transactions, corporate structuring, and corporate governance.

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    Fluent in Mandarin

Banking & finance lawyer Lydia's skill set includes property, project & development. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin.

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Angelica is a banking & financial services lawyer, experienced in property, acting for borrowers and corporate lenders.

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    Fluent in Mandarin

Sheldon is a property & projects lawyer in our Melbourne team.

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    Fluent in Cantonese

Jordon is an employment lawyer in our Melbourne team.

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    Fluent in Mandarin

Sarah is a banking & financial services lawyer in our Melbourne team.

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    Fluent in Cantonese | Mandarin

Gloria is a corporate & commercial lawyer in our Sydney team.

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    Fluent in Mandarin

Anna is a commercial dispute resolution lawyer in our Sydney team.

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