Before paid work begins, you receive a proposal explaining the work, the fee and the conditions for starting.

When the task is clear

A contract draft, document review or other identifiable task can be quoted directly after the necessary checks. The proposal lists the documents, entities, language versions, meetings and revisions included.

When an assessment is needed first

A separate assessment may be appropriate where the legal route or material facts need to be evaluated. It has its own deliverable and fee. Further work is agreed separately.

What your proposal explains

  • The responsible lawyer and engagement entity.
  • The task and deliverable.
  • The fee, currency and payment terms.
  • The proposed timetable and information needed to begin.
  • Included meetings and revisions.
  • Exclusions and treatment of translation, travel, filings or other external costs.

Changes to the work and additional fees must follow the approval process in your engagement.

How the matter begins

  1. 1

    Send a short brief

    Describe the matter, parties and any deadline without sending sensitive files.

  2. 2

    Complete the conflict check

    We check whether we can act before accepting the instruction.

  3. 3

    Agree and sign

    Confirm the responsible lawyer, engagement entity, scope, fee, timetable and terms in writing.

  4. 4

    Receive payment instructions

    Check the payee, currency, reference and amount against the agreed documents.

  5. 5

    Verify cleared funds

    A transfer receipt helps identify payment; it does not confirm that funds have arrived.

  6. 6

    Start the agreed work

    We confirm the start once payment and the other agreed starting conditions are satisfied.

Send a brief enquiry. We check whether we can act, request the information needed to define the work and provide the proposal. Formal engagement and payment arrangements are confirmed before substantive work starts.

Working from overseas

Communication channels, languages and appointment times are agreed for the matter. Meeting invitations identify the relevant time zone. China-side instructions can be handled remotely for businesses in North America, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and the Gulf, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.