The Chinese Commercial Legal System

The rapid and continuing development of the Chinese economy and its markets has made business with China an integral component of the strategies of countless foreign companies, regardless of their size or form. However, in order to turn opportunities into successful enterprises, managers need a practical guide on the legal aspects of conducting business in China, and on the strategies for effectively circumventing unnecessary risks while simultaneously using the legal system to strengthen operations and protect interests. This remarkable book provides the necessary insight and guidance to devise a corporate strategy, and to tackle issues relating to common aspects of doing business with Chinese counterparts, investing in a Chinese enterprise, and engaging in business operations there. Drawing on expertise gained during eight years in China serving the legal needs of foreign companies, the author shows how many of the mistakes that foreign companies make can easily be avoided by conducting a proper due diligence and understanding how applicable laws work in practice. He clearly describes the opportunities and pitfalls exposed as a foreign investor engages with such elements of business in China as the following: negotiating a detailed written contract; performing a legal and commercial due diligence on a prospective partner; resolving disputes through negotiation, arbitration or litigation; establishing and enforcing trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights; investing in China; considering the joint venture structure; expanding through a merger or acquisition; restructuring or liquidating an operation; designing and implementing effective corporate governance; retaining, managing and terminating employees; arranging funds into and out of China; ensuring both tax efficiency and tax compliance; and avoiding criminal liabilities in the course of doing business. Whether seeking to source from China or to establish manufacturing facilities in China to produce for export, to sell products or services on the domestic market, or even just to act as a conduit between China and the outside world, business managers and their counsel from all over the globe and across all industries will benefit enormously from this deeply informed, insightful, and practical guide

Chinese Commercial Law provides a comprehensive overview of the laws relating to trading with and investing in China. China is a growing market with great potential as well as great risks.As part of its 'open door policy', China has introduced an enormous number of new laws of a commercial nature. For business people making investments in China, an understanding of that country's legal system and commercial law is essential if opportunities are to be realised and pitfalls avoided. Chinese Commercial Law gives readers a simple, non-technical description of Chinese commercial laws, discussing, in particular, how they affect foreign investment and foreigners in China.The areas covered include: Contract Foreign investment in relation to equity joint ventures, cooperative joint ventures and wholly owned foreign enterprises Foreign trade Intellectual and industrial property Taxation, foreign exchange and banking Labour and employment Dispute resolution

This book systematically and concisely expounds the construction process of China's legal system since China's reform and opening-up. Chapter 1 defines the legal system in China and describes the development of China's legal system from 1949 to 1978. Chapter 2 introduces China's legislative system, including its historical development, division of legislative functions and power, and legislative procedures. Chapter 3 compares the differences between the law systems of other countries and China's law system and how other law systems in the world influences the law system in China. Chapter 4 studies China's constitutional law system, including its historical development, forms of law and enforcement of the constitution. Chapter 5 introduces China's administrative legal system, including main principles, administrative legislation and administrative compensation. Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9 describe China's civil and commercial legal system, China's economic legal system, China's social legal system and China's criminal legal system respectively. Chapter 10 introduces China's legal system in litigation and non-litigation procedure in terms of criminal, civil, administrative and non-litigation procedures. Chapter 11 analyses the legal system of the special administrative regions in China and its relationship with China's legal system. The last chapter, Chapter 12 studies the relationship between the international law and China's domestic law system.

Le site d'éditeur LexisNexis indique : "The first edition of this book, which appeared in 1992, was one of the first books in the English language on the Chinese legal system written from a comparative jurisprudential perspective. This fourth edition now provides an up-to-date account of this system's history, constitutional structure, sources of law, major legal institutions (such as the courts, the procuratorates, the legal profession and the Ministry of Justice), as well as the basic concepts and principles of procedural and substantive law. "

The Chinese market is appealing, but the Chinese legal system is very complicated. A basic understanding of Chinese law is absolutely crucial for companies investing in this fast-growing and potentially huge market. Since China is moving toward a socialist market economy and is increasingly integrated into the world market, some aspects of China's commercial law are different from, while others are moving into line with, those of mature market economies. This book provides an introduction to the Chinese legal system, focusing on laws and regulations on foreign direct investment and highlights recent government policies and measures undertaken to intensify economics reforms so as to meet various challenges arising from China's accession to the World Trade Organization.

This book analyses the major features of the Chinese legal system, on the eve of its accession to the World Trade Organisation and will be essential reading for students and academics in the field of Chinese law.