Franchising and distribution
Cross-border franchising has recently become legitimate under the new franchise regime in China. China adopts a strict approach supervising the franchises, including imposing filing and information disclosing requirements. Eversheds' China business group has extensive experience in advising foreign investors on market entry and operation in the booming Chinese retail and franchising market.
We advise our clients at every stage based on our knowledge and experience of the market. We help them to identify a network structure that suits them by integration or franchise, distribution, agency or other methods. We assist in the acquisition or the letting of their property portfolio and guide them through the local regulatory environment.
Our China business group can also draw on the extensive experience and knowledge of our international retail sector group based in the UK, which works with over half the largest UK retailers.
Through our Eversheds International offices, we can offer sector specific advice on the options for expansion, whether through acquisition or franchising or other routes to market. We guide our clients through related challenges such as the regulatory environment, HR, product liability, advertising, promotions as well as branding and competition issues.
Some of our prominent experience includes advising:
- a large British coffee shop franchisor on the establishment of joint ventures in Shanghai and Beijing and on the grant of trade marks and provision of services to the joint venture for the purpose of opening/operating outlets in China,
- a prominent UK high street retailer on its franchising joint venture and intellectual property licensing in China,
- a Japanese trading and manufacturing company on putting in place through local partnership arrangements a franchising system with a Italian jewellery producer products in China,
- a European multinational on the establishment of a retail network in China,
- a motorcycle manufacturer on the structuring of its promotional pricing campaigns.
In China Eversheds LLP is a foreign law firm registered with the Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China. Under current Chinese regulations, we are allowed to provide information concerning the impact of the Chinese legal environment, but, like all international law firms with offices in the PRC, we are not authorized to issue opinions, determinations, or certifications in respect of, the application of PRC law. We work in cooperation with a number of Chinese law firms. Should you require a legal opinion in respect of any Chinese law matter, we would be happy to assist you in obtaining an opinion from a Chinese firm.