GUOZUN CATHAY ASSOCIATES Albania Office was officially established on 22 August 2022 in the central business district of Tirana, the capital of Albania. It serves as the core cross-border legal service branch of GUOZUN for its expansion into Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkan region. As the only Chinese law firm to sign a cooperation agreement at the 10th Anniversary Belt and Road Entrepreneurs' Congress, the Albania Office leverages its local professional team and the global resources of the Beijing Headquarters to focus on serving market entities in both China and Albania, with particular expertise in legal services for infrastructure, energy, agriculture, cross-border trade, port logistics and other sectors.
This document sets out the official fee schedule for GUOZUN CATHAY ASSOCIATES Albania Office for 2026. All quoted prices are exclusive of value-added tax (VAT), which is levied at a rate of 20% in Albania. Payment is accepted in both euros and Chinese yuan (CNY).
I. Legitimate Fee Structures of GUOZUN CATHAY ASSOCIATES Albania Office
In strict compliance with Article 16 of the Albanian Law on the Legal Profession (Law No. 55/2018) and tailored to the needs of Chinese-invested clients, we offer the following five mainstream fee structures:
1.Fixed Fee Basis: Applicable to standardised and process-driven matters. The quote is confirmed in a one-off manner with no hidden charges.
2.Hourly Rate Basis: Applicable to complex litigation, non-litigation projects and specialised consultations. Fees are calculated based on actual working hours, with a detailed work statement provided monthly.
3.Proportional Fee Basis: Applicable to commercial disputes, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and other matters. Fees are charged on a tiered basis according to the value of the subject matter.
4.Contingency Fee Basis: Only applicable to debt recovery, tort compensation and similar cases. Fees are charged at an agreed proportion only after a successful judgment or recovery of funds, with a maximum cap of 30% of the recovered amount.
5.Annual Legal Counsel Retainer: Provides enterprises with full-process legal services on an annual basis for a fixed annual fee, entitling clients to a dedicated legal team and priority response rights.
II. Hourly Rate Standards for Lawyers at GUOZUN CATHAY ASSOCIATES Albania Office
The Albania Office team consists of Chinese-speaking international lawyers and senior local Albanian lawyers. All lawyers are proficient in both Chinese and Albanian, and some hold EU law practice qualifications.
The overall hourly rate range for lawyers at the Tirana Office in 2026 is €40–€500 per hour. This range covers service fees for all lawyer ranks, including junior lawyers, mid-level lawyers, senior lawyers/partners and experts seconded from the Beijing Headquarters. The specific rate will be determined based on the complexity of the matter, the required professional background of the lawyer and the team configuration.
Note: A 30%–50% surcharge applies for services provided outside Tirana to cover travel expenses. A uniform 50% surcharge applies for urgent and expedited services requiring response or overtime processing within 72 hours. Rates are increased by 20% for matters involving the application of EU law.
III. Specific Fee Standards for Common Legal Services
(1) Immigration and Personal Legal Services: €600–€6,000
1.Full-service digital nomad visa application
2.Work permit + residence permit
3.Investor visa
4.Family reunification visa
5.Permanent residence application
6.Personal legal services for property transactions
(2) Establishment and Operation Services for Chinese-Invested Enterprises: €1,200–€8,000
1.Registration of limited liability company (Sh.p.k)
2.Establishment of branch office / representative office
3.Amendment of articles of association / equity transfer
4.Annual compliance service package
5.Company deregistration and liquidation
(3) Commercial Contracts and Compliance Services: €300–€20,000
1.Drafting/review of standard commercial contracts
2.Drafting/review of complex commercial contracts
3.Foreign investment compliance review
4.Anti-money laundering (AML) / data compliance special projects
5.Establishment of corporate compliance systems
(4) Dispute Resolution and Litigation Services: €1,500–€300,000
1.Full representation for simple civil cases
2.General commercial disputes
3.Complex commercial litigation / arbitration
4.China-Albania cross-border trade disputes
5.Debt recovery
(5) Specialised Legal Services for Infrastructure and Energy (GUOZUN’s Core Strength): €5,000–€80,000
1.Bidding and tendering services for infrastructure projects
2.Full-process review and management of engineering contracts
3.Engineering claims and dispute resolution
4.Full-process investment services for energy projects
(6) Criminal Defence Services: €800–€100,000
1.Full representation for minor criminal cases
2.General criminal cases
3.Serious criminal cases
4.Appeal cases
Special Note: There is no upper limit on defence fees for cases involving transnational crimes, major economic crimes or capital offences. A separate quote will be provided based on the specific circumstances of the case.
IV. Key Factors Affecting GUOZUN’s Legal Fees
1.Cross-border Complexity: Fees will be increased for matters involving the coordination of Chinese and Albanian laws, cross-border evidence collection or parties from both countries.
2.Industry Specialisation: Services in specialised sectors such as infrastructure, energy and finance are charged at a higher rate than general matters due to the required industry knowledge and regulatory experience.
3.Urgency: A 50% surcharge applies to urgent cases requiring response or overtime processing within 72 hours.
4.Scope of Services: Full-service packages offer an average saving of 15%–25% compared to individual service fees.
5.Team Configuration: Fees will be adjusted for projects requiring collaboration with experts from the Beijing Headquarters or joint services from lawyers across multiple practice areas.
6.Case Outcome Expectation: The fee proportion for contingency fee cases is directly related to the difficulty of the case and the probability of success.
V. Additional Costs to Consider
In addition to legal fees, you should budget for the following third-party costs, all of which are reimbursed at official rates or actual expenditure:
1.Government Fees: Company registration fees, visa fees, court filing fees and other official charges.
2.Notarisation and Authentication Fees: Local notarisation is charged at 0.23%–0.35% of the transaction value; apostille authentication costs €150–€300 per document.
3.Translation Fees: Translation of Chinese-Albanian legal documents costs €150–€500 per document; court interpretation costs €300–€600 per day.
4.Expert Witness Fees: €800–€3,000 per court appearance.
5.Travel Expenses: Reimbursed on an actual basis for travel outside Tirana, including transportation, accommodation and daily subsistence allowances.
6.Bank Charges: Bank fees incurred from cross-border transfers shall be borne by the client.
VI. Important Reminder
All fee standards are for reference only. The final fee will be clearly stipulated in the engagement agreement based on the specific circumstances of the case and the scope of services. We recommend that you communicate in detail with a lawyer from GUOZUN CATHAY ASSOCIATES Albania Office before engagement to obtain a personalised and accurate quote.