Most people who contact a law firm in another country are doing it for the first time, and are not sure what happens next. This page sets out how a matter works here, so that nothing about the process comes as a surprise.
Getting in touch
Write to us in your own words. You do not need to have worked out the legal question, and you do not need your documents in order. Tell us what has happened, what you want to end up with, and any deadline you are working to.
You will hear from a lawyer within 24 hours. Sometimes that first reply is a view on the matter. Sometimes it is a question or two we need answered before we can give one. Either way, you will not be left waiting to find out whether anyone has read your email.
Scoping the matter
Before any work begins, we set out in writing what we understand the matter to be, what we propose to do, what we expect it to cost, and how long we expect it to take. Nothing starts until you have that in front of you and have agreed to it.
Scope changes, and in China it changes often — a counterparty's answer, a court's timetable or a regulator's request can all reshape a matter. When that happens we come back to you before doing the additional work, rather than presenting it on an invoice afterwards.
Who does the work
The lawyer who scopes your matter is the lawyer who runs it. We do not hand matters down to a large junior team, and we do not staff a file with people you have never met.
You will have one point of contact and deal with them directly — by email, by phone, or on WeChat, whichever suits you. For clients working into China from outside, WeChat is often the fastest route to an answer, and we are happy to work that way.
Language
We work in English and Mandarin. Where a matter turns on documents or negotiations in Chinese, we work in Chinese and report to you in English. You will not be asked to sign, or to rely on, a Chinese document you cannot read.
Keeping you informed
Silence is the complaint clients make most often about lawyers everywhere, and it is a fair one. We tell you where a matter stands, what is expected to happen next, and when you will next hear from us.
If a court, an authority or a counterparty goes quiet, we say so. A fortnight in which nothing has moved is still news, and you should not have to chase us to hear it.
Closing the matter
Our job is to get you to a position you can act from: a deal signed, a dispute settled or decided, money recovered — or a clear, reasoned view that a fight is not worth having.
When the matter closes, we hand over the documents, explain the reasoning behind the outcome, and give you anything you need to keep for what comes next.
Where to start
Email info@busilaw.com or call +86 400 860 2665. If you are a law firm looking for China counsel on a client's matter, see For Law Firms.