Who we are  

Universal Law Offices is a full-service international law firm with offices in Shanghai, 

Nanjing, Hangzhou, Geneva, Vancouver and Melbourne. Established at the beginning 

of 2013 by a group of sophisticated partners and associates who own over 15 years 

experiences in the legal field. We believe that the professional qualifications of its lawyers 

are the key to its success, and we have a team of extensively experienced multi-lingual 

lawyers endeavor to render invaluable legal services to individuals, companies and 

government entities around the world. Our partners and associates work closely with 

our consultants from business and academic world who are highly recognized in their 

areas of expertise to provide the best service experience to our clients. We are aiming 

at providing superior legal service in commercial transactions and its litigation ever 

since our foundation.

Areas of Practice

General Corporate Practice

ØProviding legal consultation and strategic planning for the formation and  operation of variety of business entities, including Wholly Foreign Owned  Enterprise (WFOE), Equity Joint Venture (EJV), Cooperative Joint Venture  (CJV), International Commerce, and etc.;

ØDrafting and reviewing commercial agreements;

ØMergers and acquisitions, transfer of assets and equity, restructuring and  reorganization, etc.;

ØCorporate finance, project finance, capital markets，etc.;

ØCorporate governance, risk and compliance Management, shareholders and board  meetings, etc.;

ØEmployment relationships, winding up, bankruptcy, liquidation, etc.;

Intellectual Property Rights

ØIP investigation. Identifying the suspicious target through internet research and  market search and market visit, arranging the discreet investigation into the target;  analyzing and summarizing the search results and preparing the due diligence report;

ØIP enforcement. Liaising with PSB, AIC, Customs, SFDA and etc. Making  administrative complaints before these administrative organizations on behalf of  the clients. Taking part in the administrative actions on behalf of the clients;

ØTaking care of IP criminal cases;

ØIP litigation. We are very experienced in domestic and cross-border IP litigation  for patents, trademarks, unfair competition, copyright and domain names;

ØTrademark registration, copyright recordal and its licensing and assignment;

ØOn-line taking down. We’ve set up a long-term cooperation program with the key  websites across China, which makes the complaints and taking down of IP  infringements to be more efficient.

Compliance and Labor

ØAssisting client setting up anti-bribery management system;

ØProviding post bribery investigation;

ØProviding corporate compliance strategies;

ØHuman resource compliance and rules and regulation construction;

ØEmployment contract management;

ØPersonal data protection;

ØCorporate reputation protection;

ØEquity incentive system construction;

ØEmployment dispute arbitration, personnel dispute handling and legal training services

ØCriminal claims filing.

Banking and Finance Practice

ØEstablishment of branch offices of financial institutions and enhancement of risk  management by providing legal advice on transactional, compliance and  regulatory issues stemming from business activities;

ØExpansion of the scope of activities for domestic and international banking  corporations to include broad-ranging financial services in capital markets,  investment and other areas；

ØDomestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, strategic  alliances, private equity investments and capital markets transactions for financial  institutions and private investor groups;

ØInternal investigations of financial institutions, administrative and criminal  proceedings, regulatory enforcement, white-collar defense matters and civil  litigation and arbitration;

ØIssuance and operation of novel financial products, including cutting-edge  derivative instruments and new types of capital and contingent capital securities;

ØOther traditional finance practices including commercial and bank loans,  mortgages and foreclosures, distressed assets, factoring payments, trade and  project financing, etc.

Capital Markets Practice

ØPrivate Equity, Private Placement Bond and Venture Capital;

ØOutbound and Cross-border Investment;

ØProject Financing and Tax Planning;

ØRegistration and issuance of various debt securities (including but not limited to  corporate bonds, enterprise bonds and MTNs) and debt finances of non-financial  institutions;

ØPRC domestic listing, including the over-the-counter (OTC) market；

ØOverseas listings and overseas asset management；

ØLegal advice and services regarding outbound investment and emigration including consultation, project planning, formation of offshore entities, legal   documents drafting, submission of documents to regulatory bodies, immigration by investment and other related matters.

Real Estate Practice

ØProviding legal advice and services in relation to application and approval of real  estate development projects, bid invitation and bidding, demolition and relocation,  and other pre-construction matters;

ØBT/BOT projects, transfer and pledge of construction in progress;

ØLitigation and transaction matters arising from contracting or sub-contracting of  construction, decoration and design projects;

ØPost construction legal services;

ØOther legal advice and services involving sales and purchases of real estate,  landlord and tenants, mortgage, property owners, property management services,  etc.

Bankruptcy and Liquidation Practice

ØProviding training to businesses and management teams and assist in design of  exit strategy;

ØProviding legal advice and services for businesses in relation to bankruptcy and  liquidation process, assist in the planning, drafting and implementation of  bankruptcy, liquidation and/or reorganization procedure, and provide training to  its personnel;

ØProviding legal advice and services as corporate counsel for creditors and  represent creditors in creditors’ meetings;

ØActing as administrator per appointment by courts, initiate liquidation  proceedings per court orders;

ØProviding pre-bankruptcy services including debt and asset analysis, labor  management and drafting related documents;

ØRepresenting businesses in voluntary liquidations;

ØRepresenting businesses in registration proceedings before AIC and tax  authorities;

ØProviding legal advices in the planning and implementation of the business’    restructuring, reorganization and mergers and acquisitions process;

ØRepresentation in litigations and arbitrations related to bankruptcy and  liquidation.

General Civil and Business Practice

ØProviding representations in dispute settlement and transactional matters  involving torts, personal injuries, medical malpractices, marriage and family,  wills and estate, and labor and employment, etc.;

ØProviding representations in dispute settlement and transactional matters  involving sales contracts, assuming contracts, lease contracts, transportation  contracts, technology contracts, storage contracts, brokerage contracts, guarantees  and bills disputes;

ØAssisting in business matchmaking, drafting and execution of shareholder  agreements, market analysis, feasibility study, due diligence, and provide witness  services for contracts and articles, etc.;

ØProviding representation in negotiations in matters involving investment,  technology import and reform, draft and/or review relevant legal documents, etc.

Clients we’ve served on general corporate practice    

Our team has represented numerous multinational companies including some Fortune  500 companies as well as many small and medium-sized companies for their general  corporate matters throughout China. Those companies cover a wide range of  industries, including property management, pharmaceutical, mechanism, auto,  commerce (e.g. wholesale, retail, franchise), telecommunication, software, and food  and beverage, and etc.