Guozun Cathay Associates Madagascar Office is the core service arm of Beijing Guozun Cathay Associates established to penetrate the southeast African market. It was officially inaugurated and commenced regular operations in the Central Business District of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, in November 2025.
This document sets out the official unified fee benchmark for Guozun Cathay Associates Madagascar Office for the 2026 calendar year. All fees quoted herein exclude the prevailing value-added tax and other statutory taxes and duties in Madagascar. Payments may be settled freely in four currencies: Euro (EUR), Renminbi (CNY), United States Dollar (USD), and Malagasy Ariary (MGA).
I. Statement on Compliant Fee Models
This fee system strictly complies with the Regulations Relating to the Legal Profession of Madagascar, as well as the practice rules and fee guidelines of the Madagascar Law Society. Whilst aligning with the usage habits of Chinese-funded enterprises for cross-border legal services, it establishes five standardised fee models, fully conforming to Madagascar’s judicial regulatory requirements and prevailing standards for international commercial legal services:
1.Fixed-fee model
Applicable only to basic legal services with standardised processes and precisely pre-determinable scope and workload. The total service fee is locked upon contract signing, with no hidden additional charges. This model applies to standardised legal matters such as establishment of commercial entities, basic compliance filings, drafting of standard legal instruments, and full-process visa application agency services.
2.Hourly rate model
Applicable to non-standardised matters such as major cross-border investment projects, complex dispute resolution cases, customised special compliance consultancy, and full-cycle special services for mining rights. Fees are calculated based on the effective working hours of lawyers, with itemised timesheets issued monthly. The entire service process is verifiable and traceable.
3.Tiered fee model by subject matter value
Applicable to property-related legal services such as cross-border mergers and acquisitions, large asset transactions, commercial claims, and mineral resource right transactions. Fees are charged at tiered rates based on the value of the case or project, in line with international high-end commercial legal services practice and local professional rules in Madagascar.
4.Conditional fee / risk agency model (success-based)
Operating within the framework permitted by the practice rules of the Madagascar Law Society, this model applies exclusively to cross-border debt collection, commercial recovery and tort claim cases. Fees are charged only on the condition that the agreed sum is actually recovered or the case is won. The maximum fee ratio shall not exceed 30% of the actual amount recovered.
5.Annual retainer model
Provides enterprises with year-round, full-scenario legal support for a fixed annual fee. Clients are assigned an exclusive multilingual service team, with a commitment to prioritised response within 48 hours. Services cover full-dimensional compliance management and risk prevention for enterprises’ daily operations in Madagascar, and customised packages can be tailored for key sectors including mining, agriculture, infrastructure and foreign trade.
II. Official Hourly Rate Schedule for Legal Services – 2026
All practising lawyers at Guozun Cathay Associates Madagascar Office hold valid practising certificates issued by the Madagascar Law Society. The core team is proficient in the application of laws across both Chinese and Malagasy jurisdictions, and capable of seamless multilingual service delivery. Senior partners hold practising qualifications across multiple African jurisdictions, with deep expertise in core areas including cross-border investment, energy and mining, infrastructure engineering, international commerce and regulatory compliance. A tiered pricing system is implemented.
2026 Official Unified Hourly Rate Range: EUR 160 – EUR 580 per hour
The rate schedule covers all personnel levels: junior practising lawyers, intermediate specialist lawyers, senior partners, and cross-border experts from the Beijing headquarters. The final applicable rate shall be comprehensively determined based on case complexity, degree of specialisation match, project urgency and service team composition.
Supplementary Billing Rules
For case handling outside the territory of Madagascar, a travel coordination and field service allowance of 25%–50% shall apply, varying by travel distance and field assignment duration.
For services initiated on an urgent basis within 48 hours, or work performed on statutory public holidays, a 50% urgent service surcharge shall apply uniformly.
For cases handled collaboratively across multiple jurisdictions in Southern and Eastern Africa, rates shall be uplifted by 20%.
For dedicated multilingual court support services, rates shall be uplifted by 15%.
For mining concession and financial regulatory special compliance cases, rates shall be uplifted by 10%–25%.
For field work in remote mining areas, a special field allowance of 10%–30% shall apply, varying by travel distance and operational difficulty.
III. Special Fee Schedule for Core Practice Areas
This fee schedule focuses on the core business lines of Guozun Cathay Associates Madagascar Office, precisely matching the core needs of Chinese-funded enterprises investing and operating in Madagascar. It aligns with the procedural rules of key regulatory bodies such as the Madagascar Economic Development Board, Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Labour, and the entire service system is adapted to Madagascar’s local legal framework and current regulatory requirements. Details are as follows:
A. Cross-Border Investment (China-Madagascar) & Full-Scope Corporate and Commercial Legal Services
Fee Range: EUR 800 – EUR 28,000
1.Full-process compliance agency services for Chinese-funded entities to establish wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, regional headquarters and permanent representative offices in Madagascar, with simultaneous pre-access compliance screening and risk assessment for foreign investment.
2.Agency services for filing of various business qualifications and application for industry operation permits in Madagascar, as well as compliance structure design and implementation for foreign shareholding.
3.Legal due diligence for two-way China-Madagascar investment, compliance planning for investment routes, and application and implementation of tax incentive policies under the Investment Law of Madagascar.
4.Special legal services for enterprise equity restructuring, change of business qualifications, compliance maintenance of entity existence, and full-process deregistration and liquidation of cross-border enterprises.
5.Full-process legal services for acquisition of land use rights, application for authorisation of foreign land ownership, and compliance review of long-term leases in Madagascar.
6.Supporting legal services for entry into Chinese-Malagasy industrial parks and establishment of agricultural and manufacturing enterprises, with full-process support for policy liaison and compliance filings.
B. Special Legal Services for Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Construction
Fee Range: EUR 6,000 – EUR 82,000
1.Full-process legal services for application, renewal, transfer and mortgage of mining rights, in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the 2023 edition of the Mining Code of Madagascar.
2.Full-cycle compliance management for mineral resource exploration, development, production and sales, as well as negotiation of mining concession agreements, design of government revenue sharing clauses and risk prevention services.
3.Full-chain legal services relating to oil and gas exploration and development, pipeline construction and operation.
4.Special legal services for EPC contracts of infrastructure projects including highways, ports, airports, power and water conservancy works, covering drafting of transaction documents, commercial negotiation support and full-process risk management during contract performance.
5.Full-process special legal services for project financing, syndicated loans and public-private partnerships (PPP).
6.Environmental impact assessment, environmental permit application and full-cycle environmental compliance management, as well as response to environmental inspections and administrative penalty relief services.
7.Full-process legal due diligence and transaction support services for cross-border mergers and acquisitions of mining and infrastructure projects.
C. Full-Chain Legal Services for International Trade and Customs Compliance
Fee Range: EUR 3,800 – EUR 58,000
1.Full-chain compliance review for China-Madagascar cross-border trade, bespoke drafting of international trade contracts and supply chain agreements, and full-process risk management.
2.Specialist consultancy on Madagascar customs compliance, import and export control, and tariff planning, as well as trade barrier response and compliance handling services.
3.Application for import and export licences, processing of certificates of origin, consultancy on commodity classification compliance, and agency services for response to customs inspections, smuggling investigations and administrative penalties.
4.Full-process legal services relating to cross-border payment and settlement, foreign exchange control compliance consultancy, and profit repatriation.
5.Full-process legal support services relating to international sale of goods, international logistics and marine insurance.
6.Agency services for international trade remedy investigations, pre-litigation mediation of cross-border trade disputes, contract breach handling and non-litigation rights protection services.
D. Employment and Human Resources Compliance Legal Services
Fee Range: EUR 220 – EUR 18,000
1.Customisation of multilingual employment documents adapted to Malagasy labour law, compliance review and implementation guidance for employment contracts, employee handbooks and enterprise rules and regulations.
2.Full-process agency services for application, renewal and change of work permits and residence permits for foreign employees of Chinese-funded enterprises.
3.Compliance planning for Malagasy labour localisation requirements (foreign employees shall not exceed 20% of the workforce), design of localised employment compliance schemes, and mitigation of administrative penalties for illegal employment.
4.Compliance management of employee remuneration and benefits, social insurance, working hours and leave systems, as well as specialist support for trade union relations and collective bargaining.
5.Compliance handling of employee dismissal and labour disputes, and full-process agency services for local labour arbitration and litigation in Madagascar.
6.Annual compliance audit of enterprise employment, response to Ministry of Labour inspections, and compliance design for executive employment and equity incentives.
7.Specialist services for staff resettlement and labour risk prevention during enterprise downsizing and restructuring.
E. Tax Planning and Compliance Risk Management Legal Services
Fee Range: EUR 3,200 – EUR 52,000
1.Cross-border tax planning for enterprises, international tax compliance and tax optimisation for investment transactions, and full-process support for daily tax filing and change of tax registration.
2.Application and maintenance of tax incentive policies under the Investment Law of Madagascar, transfer pricing compliance and preparation of contemporaneous documentation.
3.Full-process agency services for response to tax inspections, administrative penalty defence, administrative reconsideration and administrative litigation.
4.Establishment of internal compliance systems for enterprises in Madagascar, and full-dimensional compliance building for anti-commercial bribery, anti-unfair competition and anti-corruption.
5.Enterprise compliance risk screening, special compliance audit and compliance training, and localised adaptation and implementation of dual-jurisdictional (China-Madagascar) compliance standards.
6.Legal response services for government inspections, regulatory enquiry responses and administrative regulatory investigations in Madagascar.
7.Formulation of emergency plans for cross-border enterprise compliance risks, and emergency legal support for enterprise crisis management and unexpected incidents.
F. Intellectual Property Protection and Cross-Border Brand Enforcement Legal Services
Fee Range: EUR 240 – EUR 26,000
1.Full-process agency services for nationwide registration, renewal and change of trademarks, patents, copyrights and trade secrets for Chinese brands in Madagascar.
2.IP infringement investigation, cross-border evidence collection, and full-case agency services for administrative complaints and judicial enforcement in Madagascar.
3.IP customs recordation and border protection, and full-process handling of cross-border brand counterfeiting and domain name disputes.
4.Drafting and review of cross-border IP licensing and transfer agreements between China and Madagascar, and IP legal services relating to technology import and export.
5.Full-process legal support for franchising and brand authorisation, as well as trade secret protection and non-compete compliance implementation.
6.Specialist IP protection services in the fields of e-commerce and digital economy.
7.IP overseas layout for technology and manufacturing enterprises, and specialist services for establishment of brand risk control systems.
G. Cross-Border Dispute Resolution and International Award Enforcement Legal Services
Fee Range: EUR 1,200 – EUR 420,000
1.Pre-litigation mediation for commercial contract disputes, investment disputes and mining right disputes between China and Madagascar, and full-process agency services for litigation at all levels of courts in Madagascar.
2.Full-process agency services for international arbitration cases before institutions including the Madagascar Arbitration Centre and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration.
3.Cross-border recognition and enforcement of court judgments and arbitral awards under bilateral judicial assistance between China and Madagascar, and specialist services for cross-border property preservation.
4.Cross-border commercial debt collection, arrears recovery, distressed asset disposal, and full-process agency services for local enforcement procedures in Madagascar.
5.Full-process handling of various civil and commercial disputes, including contract disputes, company disputes, investment and financing disputes, IP disputes and labour disputes.
6.Full-process support for alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and settlement, as well as specialist handling of administrative disputes and commercial tort disputes.
7.Specialist criminal compliance review and supporting legal services for major cross-border economic crimes and transnational compliance violations.
Special Note: There is no fixed fee cap for major cross-border mining right disputes, transnational financial violation cases and major criminal cases. Quotations shall be customised based on case difficulty, scale of cross-border collaboration, evidence collection costs and scope of field coverage.
H. Private Wealth Management and Cross-Border Family Legal Services
Fee Range: EUR 650 – EUR 3,800
1.Full-process compliance agency services for various business visas, long-term residence visas, permanent residence and naturalisation applications in Madagascar.
2.Compliance consultancy and risk prevention for cross-border asset allocation by high-net-worth individuals, as well as specialist services for family wealth structure design and family trust establishment and administration.
3.Legal consultancy and dispute resolution agency services for cross-border marriage and family matters, inheritance and property division.
4.Compliance review for purchase and lease of real estate in Madagascar by foreign nationals, and full-process legal risk control for asset transactions.
5.Planning of individual tax resident status and international tax compliance, as well as design of overseas asset protection and risk isolation schemes.
6.Consultancy on personal commercial compliance, and cross-border investment-related legal risk screening and compliance advice for individuals.
IV. Core Factors Determining Legal Service Fees
1.Complexity of cross-jurisdictional services: For projects involving dual-jurisdictional legal application, cross-border evidence collection, multi-entity collaboration and multi-regional coordination, fees shall be uplifted proportionally based on matter complexity.
2.Level of industry specialisation barriers: Fees for sectors with high professional barriers such as energy and mining, cross-border infrastructure and financial regulation are higher than basic civil and commercial legal services. In particular, fees for full-cycle mining services shall be dynamically adjusted based on mine location and exploration/development stage.
3.Difficulty of case/project handling: For matters such as major litigation and arbitration, difficult cross-border enforcement, mining right ownership disputes and special regulatory response, fees shall be dynamically adjusted based on case value, evidence acquisition difficulty and handling duration.
4.Urgency of service response: For urgent service initiation, holiday work and emergency field work in remote mining areas, urgent service fees and field allowances shall be strictly charged in accordance with standards, with no room for negotiation.
5.Service procurement model: Compared with separate procurement of individual services, the comprehensive cost of annual retainer packages can be reduced by 15%–25%. Package procurement of multiple practice areas qualifies for tiered discounts.
6.Dedicated service team composition: For projects handled jointly by multi-field experts, supported by cross-border collaboration from the Beijing headquarters, or staffed by an exclusive multilingual team, fees shall be adjusted accordingly based on team configuration.
7.Case performance risk level: The fee ratio for risk agency matters shall be directly linked to case success probability, recovery difficulty, service cycle and complexity of property disposal.
V. Third-Party Fees Requiring Separate Budget
The following fees are independent of legal service fees and shall be reimbursed at official standard rates of Madagascar or actual amounts incurred. Our firm does not charge any agency premium for these items:
1.Official administrative fees: Including registration fees for commercial entities in Madagascar, fees for various visa applications, court litigation and arbitration filing fees, official fees for IP registration and renewal, administrative fees relating to mining rights, business licence filing fees, etc. These are directly charged by the Government of Madagascar and statutory regulatory bodies, and settled per official standards.
2.Notarisation and authentication fees: Including fees for local notarisation in Madagascar, Hague Apostille, and consular authentication between China and Madagascar, settled per official standards of the two countries and relevant authentication authorities.
3.Professional translation fees: Fees for translation of legal documents between Chinese, French, English and Malagasy, and court interpretation services, settled per page / per word in accordance with local industry standards in Madagascar.
4.Third-party expert service fees: Including fees charged by judicial appraisal institutions, mining right evaluators, industry expert consultants and third-party due diligence agencies, settled based on actual amounts incurred.
5.Field travel expenses: Transportation, accommodation and field allowances incurred from case handling within and outside Madagascar, and expenses relating to travel to remote mining areas, reimbursed against valid receipts.
6.Financial transaction fees: Bank charges incurred during cross-border transfer and currency exchange, to be borne by the client.
7.Other third-party fees: Including fees charged by professional institutions for auditing, asset valuation, environmental testing and compliance testing, settled based on actual commissioned amounts.
VI. Important Statement
All fee standards set out in this document are the official benchmark reference prices for Guozun Cathay Associates Madagascar Office for the 2026 calendar year and do not constitute any final offer of services. The final fee amount for all legal services shall be subject to the formal written engagement contract signed by both parties, determined by the client’s specific needs, actual case circumstances, scope of services and project complexity.