The legal service market in Xiamen is growing in line with the increasing trade across the Taiwan Strait after the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in June 2010. Many law firms have launched offices in Fujian in order to take more market share. The recent establishment of Yingke’s Xiamen office is a case in the point.
Yingke’s Xiamen office, its first in Fujian, is headed up by managing partner Huang Xiang, who relocated from Beijing headquarters. 35 local lawyers including 17 partners have signed agreements to join. The office will focus on cross-Strait and foreign-related legal services, particularly for investment, M&A and IP.
So far, four other Beijing firms – Dacheng, Dongyuan, Guangtao, Zhongyin – have established an office in both Xiamen. Dacheng’s Xiamen office has recently formed a special practice group for cross-Strait legal services in response to the increasing demand for legal advice in corporation establishment, investment due diligence and resource integration due to the growth of cross-Straits economic trade.
Xiamen, the closest city to Taiwan, has attracted more than 2,500 Taiwan-invested enterprises, which accounts for 40% of the total industrial output of Xiamen, and 60% of its exports. The ECFA is expanded to drive more mainland investment in Taiwan. ALB
Beijing firms in Fujian province
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