Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Deloitte has continued to secure its foothold in China this year with the opening of its 15th office on the Mainland. The firm fields approximately 50 partners across its China offices, in addition to numerous other fee earners. The firm recently launched ... [more]

Deloitte has continued to secure its foothold in China this year with the opening of its 15th office on the Mainland. The firm fields approximately 50 partners across its China offices, in addition to numerous other fee earners. The firm recently launched a dedicated state owned enterprises group as well as a high net worth individual programme.

This past year, Deloitte advised a publicly listed global restaurant chain on alternative acquisition structures in connection with a proposed offer to acquire all remaining shares of a Hong Kong listed Chinese restaurant chain. The firm advised on due diligence for the target and addressed potential sensitive business and regulatory concerns.

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Ernst & Young’s China offering focuses on the north of the country, the south and Central China. The accounting firm enjoys strong ties with local tax authorities in Guangdong and Guangzhou, where it often provides international advice and services.For ... [more]

Ernst & Young’s China offering focuses on the north of the country, the south and Central China. The accounting firm enjoys strong ties with local tax authorities in Guangdong and Guangzhou, where it often provides international advice and services.

For example, in the last year, Ernst & Young provided training on transfer pricing to the Guangdong Provincial State Tax Bureau and the Guangzhou Municipal State Tax Bureau in connection with international methods and standards for various concepts. The team also advised a large multinational with ‘negotiating the benefit issue’ in order for the company to pursue less withholding tax rates on dividends under the Double Tax Arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong. The case involved substantial sums of money, and Ernst & Young introduced new international tax concepts to the China’s State Administration of Taxation on the matter.

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KPMG’s large pool of tax experts fields a number of specialist practices, including corporate tax, tax controversy, transfer pricing, capital markets and financial products, cross border structuring, M&A and indirect tax. The firm’s full range of offerings ... [more]

KPMG’s large pool of tax experts fields a number of specialist practices, including corporate tax, tax controversy, transfer pricing, capital markets and financial products, cross border structuring, M&A and indirect tax. The firm’s full range of offerings and global network enables it to advise foreign investors on China related matters, domestic clients on overseas tax issues, and a wide variety of entities and institutions on multi-jurisdictional tax matters.

KPMG’s China group recently represented an aircraft leasing company on the implementation and structuring of a novel aircraft leasing platform in China’s free trade zone. The firm also acted for an overseas real estate fund in negotiating with the tax authorities on matters relevant to the sale of properties in the PRC.

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PwC is one of the leading tax firms in China with 16 offices around the country. It advises clients across a wide range of sectors including financial services, retail and consumer products, private equity, real estate and automotive. The firm advises ... [more]

PwC is one of the leading tax firms in China with 16 offices around the country. It advises clients across a wide range of sectors including financial services, retail and consumer products, private equity, real estate and automotive. The firm advises domestic companies on their outbound transactions, and foreign companies on their acquisitions in China. PwC’s International Tax Services (ITS) team seeks to meet the domestic market’s increasing demand for advice relating to the tax aspects of overseas acquisitions and investments. The Value Chain Transformation (VTS) group advises foreign and domestic clients on integrated solutions for their multi-jurisdictional issues, while the International Assignment Services (IAS) team helps to advise on issues relating to the worldwide relocation of personnel.

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Baker & McKenzie has a long history of representing foreign companies investing in China on tax issues related to their inbound transactions. The firm’s large Greater China tax team across Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong advises on the full range of ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie has a long history of representing foreign companies investing in China on tax issues related to their inbound transactions. The firm’s large Greater China tax team across Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong advises on the full range of tax related issues that companies face. The firm has specialised econometrics and benchmarking capabilities for advising on transfer pricing matters. The team’s depth of experience advising major banks and accounting firms reassures clients of its knowledge of PRC law issues.

Peers reserve high praise for practice group head Jon Eichelberger. “Eichelberger has been doing PRC tax law for a long time,” says one partner at a rival firm, “and technically he’s very solid. He’s a great tax lawyer, attentive to detail and knowledgeable.”

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Experienced partner Julie Zhang leads Mayer Brown JSM’s China tax practice, which advises on a wide array of tax issues including enterprise income tax, value added tax, business tax, property related tax, customs duties, and withholding tax matters. ... [more]

Experienced partner Julie Zhang leads Mayer Brown JSM’s China tax practice, which advises on a wide array of tax issues including enterprise income tax, value added tax, business tax, property related tax, customs duties, and withholding tax matters. Zhang and her team are well regarded in the market, with one peer noting: “Mayer Brown JSM really does have a presence in China and a full tax team. The firm really does know Mainland law enough to be able to advise incoming companies on tax matters.”

Mayer Brown JSM’s tax advisory team recently represented Swire Hotels in relation to its work with Sino Ocean Land on the operation of Beijing’s Jingtai Hotel, allowing both parties to come to a commercially practical and efficient arrangement.

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O’Melveny & Myers’ robust China M&A and private equity practices help clients to effectively navigate the tax aspects of their international investments in China. Leading tax lawyer Larry Sussman is known as O’Melveny’s tax expert in China, and he brings ... [more]

O’Melveny & Myers’ robust China M&A and private equity practices help clients to effectively navigate the tax aspects of their international investments in China. Leading tax lawyer Larry Sussman is known as O’Melveny’s tax expert in China, and he brings 13 years of experience to the firm’s tax advisory offering. He is especially well known for helping foreign companies structure tax issues and navigate sensitive tax related issues on transactions. He is a regular contributor to leading China tax publications and informational services.

O’Melveny’s clients include private equity houses, state and local agencies, financial institutions and international corporations.

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Garrigues Garrigues offers tax advice to clients relating to their investments and interests in China. The firm’s tax specialists recently advised Ferroatlantica on tax structuring and planning for expatriates and inter-group transactions. The tax team ... [more]

Garrigues

Garrigues offers tax advice to clients relating to their investments and interests in China. The firm’s tax specialists recently advised Ferroatlantica on tax structuring and planning for expatriates and inter-group transactions. The tax team also represented Telepizza in advisory matters relating to China investments and employment for expatriates.

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