Announcement on the Establishment of Guozun Law Firm’s Japan Office — A Chinese-Invested Law Firm in Japan

I. Core Establishment Information

In November 2023, Guozun Law Firm’s Japan Office officially completed registration and fully commenced practice in Tokyo, Japan. This office is a core node in Guozun Law Firm’s global strategic layout in the Asia-Pacific region. Its establishment has improved Guozun’s cross-border legal service network in East Asia and enables the firm to provide localized, full-process, and compliance-oriented professional legal support for two-way economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan, cross-border operations of market entities, and civil activities.

II. Institutional Overview

Guozun’s Japan Office is located in the core business district of Tokyo and holds qualifications to practice throughout Japan. It deeply integrates local Japanese judicial resources, regulatory coordination channels, and a nationwide practice network, enabling it to meet legal service needs across all regions of Japan.

1. Team Structure: The core members all possess legal practice qualifications in both China and Japan, are proficient in both Chinese and Japanese, and have an average of more than 10 years of experience in Japanese local judicial practice and China-Japan cross-border legal services. They have an accurate grasp of Japan’s current laws and regulations, regulatory policies, judicial decision-making rules, and commercial practices, while also maintaining deep coordination with Guozun’s China headquarters and its full-spectrum legal service system, thereby enabling full closed-loop handling of China-Japan cross-border legal services.

2. Institutional Positioning: Focused on the core needs of two-way cross-border legal services between China and Japan, the office aims to bridge regional barriers and information asymmetry in cross-border legal services, and to provide compliant, professional, and efficient full-chain legal services for various market entities and individuals.

III. Core Scope of Practice

The office covers the full range of legal needs arising in two-way China-Japan cross-border scenarios. Its core practice areas are clearly divided by specialization as follows:

1. Legal Services for Investment in Japan and Commercial Compliance

Full-process services for the design of foreign direct investment (FDI) structures into Japan, and the establishment and amendment registration of Japanese corporate entities;

Full-process legal services for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and restructurings in Japan, due diligence throughout transactions, drafting of commercial contracts, and compliance review;

Full-process legal services for China-Japan joint venture and cooperation projects, as well as supply chain and import-export trade compliance management;

Consultation on market access in Japan, establishment of industry regulatory compliance systems, and optimization of corporate governance structures.

1. Legal Services for Intellectual Property and Digital Economy Compliance

Local Japanese filing, registration, renewal, and global strategic layout services for invention patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, and copyrights;

Investigation of intellectual property infringement, rights enforcement litigation, handling of unfair competition disputes, and comprehensive protection of trade secrets;

Full-process representation in administrative and judicial proceedings before the Japan Patent Office and the Intellectual Property High Court;

Compliance services relating to personal information protection, cross-border data flows, artificial intelligence industry compliance, cross-border e-commerce operations, and cybersecurity system development.

1. Legal Services for Cross-Border Dispute Resolution and Crisis Response

Full-process representation in civil and commercial litigation and arbitration involving contracts, investment, intellectual property, finance, and other matters between China and Japan;

Representation in the mutual recognition and enforcement of effective judgments and arbitral awards between China and Japan;

Response to administrative penalties imposed on enterprises in Japan, handling of antitrust and unfair competition investigations, and compliance risk assessments;

Establishment of criminal compliance systems, criminal defense and crisis response, and supporting legal services for cross-border public opinion management.

1. Legal Services for Labor and Human Resources Compliance

Cross-border employee dispatch between China and Japan, compliant drafting of employment contracts and employee handbooks for local hiring in Japan;

Compliant design of compensation and benefits structures and performance evaluation systems, as well as compliant handling of employee dismissal and layoffs;

Full-process support for union negotiations and collective bargaining, and representation in labor arbitration and litigation;

Compliance services relating to residence status for foreign employees, work visas, permanent residence applications, and consultation on cross-border social insurance and individual income tax compliance.

1. Legal Services for Real Estate and Infrastructure Investment

Full-process due diligence and transaction services for the acquisition, leasing, and disposal of residential, commercial, industrial park, hotel, and cultural tourism real estate in Japan;

Design of transaction structures, contract review, and full-process representation in title registration for real estate transactions;

Full-process legal services for investment and financing, bidding and tendering, construction, and operations of infrastructure projects, urban renewal projects, and cross-border cultural tourism projects in Japan;

Tax planning, compliance risk review, and dispute handling in relation to real estate matters.

1. Legal Services for Cross-Border Taxation and Wealth Management

Cross-border tax planning for investments between China and Japan, transfer pricing compliance, and permanent establishment risk management;

Response to tax audits and tax dispute resolution, and establishment of compliance systems for cross-border related-party transactions;

Cross-border wealth succession planning for high-net-worth individuals, establishment of family trusts, and compliance services for cross-border asset allocation;

Full-process legal services relating to immigration and identity planning.

1. Legal Services for Entertainment, Tourism, and Emerging Industries

Full-process legal services for cross-border licensing, distribution, and investment in film, animation, gaming, music, and other cultural and creative IP between China and Japan;

Drafting of contracts and dispute handling relating to artist management, sports event cooperation, and athlete agency arrangements;

Full-process compliance services for cross-border cultural tourism and wellness project investment, construction, and operation;

Legal services for emerging sectors such as cross-border livestreaming and cross-border MCN agency operations.

1. Supporting Legal Services for Investment in China by Japanese Enterprises

Relying on Guozun’s nationwide legal service network in China, the office provides Japanese-invested entities with full-chain services for investment in China, covering all areas including foreign investment market access compliance, establishment of foreign-invested enterprises, M&A and restructuring in China, compliance system construction, labor and employment compliance, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution in China.

IV. Practice Standards and Risk Control System

Guozun’s Japan Office strictly follows the legal practice standards and industry rules of both China and Japan, and has established standardized case management procedures, a full-process compliance and risk control system, and a client information confidentiality mechanism. All legal services are delivered in strict compliance with the regulatory requirements of both China and Japan, with full process traceability, in order to effectively safeguard clients’ lawful rights and interests as well as service compliance.

V. Development Plan

Guozun’s Japan Office will continue to deepen its presence in the field of China-Japan cross-border legal services, continuously improve its professional service system, strengthen its local practice capabilities, and focus on cutting-edge compliance needs arising from cross-border economic and trade exchanges, thereby providing ongoing, stable, and professional legal support for two-way market cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan.