Investment & business
Inbound investment, Chinese counterparty checks, contract review and commercial debt recovery.
Read moreYang Wenxian | PRC-licensed attorney | Beijing, China
Legal counsel in China for foreign nationals, visitors and investors
I advise people and small businesses outside China — and those already here — on civil and commercial questions governed by Chinese law. Clear written advice, plainly stated limits, and representation before PRC courts.
Written English & Chinese correspondence · Clients in China and abroad
- PRC-licensedQualified to advise on Chinese law and appear before PRC courts
- Beijing-basedOn the ground where filings, evidence and enforcement happen
- Clients abroad welcomeWritten instructions and remote engagement supported
- Plain boundariesScope, language and fees confirmed in writing before work starts
How I can help
I advise foreign individuals, visitors and small businesses on civil and commercial matters governed by the law of the People’s Republic of China. The practice is focused on six situations that commonly bring non-Chinese clients into contact with the Chinese legal system.
Travel & short stays
Travel contract disputes, refunds, consumer claims and personal injury matters during a stay in China.
Read moreStudy & exchange
Tenancy, tuition refunds, training contracts and civil claims affecting students and exchange visitors.
Read moreEmployment & labor
Employment contracts, dismissal, unpaid wages and labor arbitration for foreign nationals working in China.
Read moreMarriage & family
Cross-border marriage, divorce, property division and inheritance disputes under PRC law.
Read moreLitigation & enforcement
Civil and commercial litigation before PRC courts, including representation of clients who remain abroad.
Read moreWho this practice is for
Visitors & short-stay travellers
You are in China for a short period and have a dispute with a hotel, tour operator, retailer, landlord or service provider, or you have suffered an injury.
Inbound investors & small businesses
You are contracting with a Chinese counterparty, investing in a Chinese company, chasing an unpaid invoice, or need to understand your position before a dispute escalates.
Students & exchange visitors
You are studying, teaching or participating in an exchange programme in China and need help with a tenancy, training contract, refund or civil claim.
Foreign employees
You work in China and your wages are unpaid, your dismissal is disputed, or you were asked to sign a contract you could not fully read.
Cross-border families
A marriage, a divorce, property or an inheritance spans China and another country, and you need to know what PRC law actually provides.
Clear about scope, and clear about language
What I do
- Explain your rights and options under PRC law in a written opinion or consultation
- Review Chinese-language contracts and correspondence and explain what they actually say
- Check a Chinese counterparty, prepare evidence, and draft claims and settlement proposals
- Represent clients in civil and commercial litigation and enforcement before PRC courts
What is outside the practice
- Advice on the law of any country other than the People’s Republic of China
- Visa, immigration, residence-permit or nationality applications
- Criminal defence work and representation in criminal proceedings
- Any guarantee, prediction or promise about the outcome of a matter
Language of communication
I work in Chinese and in written English. I do not provide English-language telephone consultations, live interpretation or courtroom interpreting. Court proceedings in China are conducted in Chinese; where an interpreter is needed for a client, one can be arranged separately. This is stated openly so that expectations are set correctly from the start.
How an engagement works
- 01
Send a short written summary
Tell me who the parties are, what happened, when, what documents exist and what you want to achieve. Written English or Chinese is fine. Please do not send sensitive originals at this stage.
- 02
Scope and fee confirmation
I confirm whether the matter falls within my practice, outline the work, and send a written engagement letter and fee arrangement. No work starts until you accept it.
- 03
Documents and analysis
You provide copies of the relevant contracts, receipts, messages and filings. I review them, identify the legal issues and set out options and risks in writing.
- 04
Action and follow-up
Depending on your instructions: negotiation, a formal letter, a settlement, filing a claim, or representation in court. Clients outside China can give instructions remotely.
When you cannot come to China
Physical presence is often not required for a consultation, and in many civil cases a client living abroad can instruct counsel without travelling to China. Where court proceedings are involved, a power of attorney signed outside China generally has to be notarised and either carry an apostille (for countries party to the Hague Apostille Convention, effective for China since 7 November 2023) or be consularly legalised, consistent with Article 275 of the PRC Civil Procedure Law. I explain the required steps for your country before you incur any cost.
Common questions
- Do you offer consultations in spoken English?
- Consultations are handled in writing, in English or Chinese. Spoken English consultations and live interpretation are not offered; an independent interpreter can be arranged where needed.
- Can you help if I am outside China?
- Yes. Consultations and most preparatory work are handled remotely. Court representation may require a notarised and apostilled or legalised power of attorney.
- Do you guarantee a successful outcome?
- No. I explain the legal position, the evidence and the risks, but no lawyer can guarantee the result of a negotiation or a court case.
Start with a short written summary
A clear description of the problem is enough for a first exchange. I will tell you whether the matter is within my scope and what information is needed next.