Guozun Cathay Associates Jordan Office, as a key strategic hub in the Middle East within Guozun’s global legal service network, was officially established in January 2024. It operates across two core commercial districts – the capital city Amman and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone – with its service footprint covering Amman Governorate, Aqaba Governorate, Zarqa Governorate and other major economic and commercial hubs in Jordan, and its service capabilities extending to the entire territory of Jordan as well as neighbouring regions in the Middle East and North Africa.
All core legal practitioners at the office hold local Jordanian practising certificates and have over 10 years of legal practice experience in Jordan, with in-depth mastery of Jordan’s federal and governorate-level legal systems, regulatory frameworks and judicial practice standards. The entire team is proficient in Chinese, English and Arabic, and delivers services under a “dual-jurisdiction collaboration, integrated service” model in partnership with the cross-border legal team at Guozun’s Beijing headquarters. This model provides end-to-end compliance legal services to Chinese outbound entities, local Jordanian commercial entities and individual cross-border clients.
In the first half of 2026, leveraging the joint case-handling mechanism of “Beijing Headquarters + Jordan Local Office”, Guozun Cathay Associates successfully represented a series of high-profile cross-border legal matters spanning core practice areas including cross-border investment and commercial disputes, immigration and cross-border status planning, commercial compliance, and cross-border family affairs and wealth management. Drawing on its precise understanding of both Chinese and Jordanian law, extensive cross-border dispute resolution experience and efficient cross-regional coordination, the firm delivered comprehensive, premium legal support to Chinese enterprises expanding into Jordan and Chinese nationals residing in the country.
I. Cross-Border Investment and Commercial Dispute Resolution
Case 1: Cross-Border Procurement Contract Dispute between a Shandong Chemical Company and a Jordanian Phosphate Supplier
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: November 2025 – March 2026
Client: A Shandong-based Chinese enterprise specialising in chemical raw materials trade
Case Background The client paid 326,000 Jordanian dinars (approximately US$460,000) to a Jordanian phosphate supplier in accordance with their procurement contract. However, amid a sharp surge in international market prices, the supplier unilaterally terminated the contract and refused to refund the payment, claiming that the market conditions fell within the scope of the contract’s force majeure clause. Following two months of unsuccessful commercial negotiations, the client resolved to pursue legal recourse.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Evidence collection and preservation within China; client liaison and requirements alignment; drafting of Chinese legal documents; analysis of cross-border fund flows; domestic asset tracing
2.Guozun Amman Office: Application of Jordanian commercial law analysis; representation before Jordanian commercial courts; application for property preservation; liaison with opposing counsel and judicial authorities; enforcement procedure follow-up
Case Highlights
1.Adopted a dual-jurisdiction team collaboration model, completing evidence gathering and legal analysis in both jurisdictions within 48 hours and formulating a targeted litigation strategy promptly.
2.Secured pre-litigation property preservation from the Amman Commercial Court, freezing the supplier’s accounts at the Central Bank of Jordan and two commercial banks, which laid a critical foundation for subsequent fund recovery.
3.Precisely applied the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and Article 221 of the Jordanian Commercial Code to effectively refute the defendant’s force majeure defence, establishing that market price fluctuations do not constitute statutory force majeure.
4.After three court hearings and two rounds of evidence exchange, compelled the opposing party to accept a mediation settlement.
Case Outcome The matter was successfully concluded on 28 March 2026. Guozun’s legal team assisted the client in fully recovering the 326,000 Jordanian dinars in paid funds plus accrued overdue interest, earning high recognition from the client.
Case 2: Full-Process Legal Advisory for a 50MW PV Power Station Investment in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Aqaba Office)
Case Period: September 2025 – April 2026
Client: A Chinese new energy technology Co., Ltd.
Case Background The client planned to invest in a 50MW photovoltaic power station project in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, with a total investment of approximately US$25 million. To mitigate cross-border investment risks and safeguard its interests, the client engaged Guozun to provide full-process legal services from project initiation to investment closing.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Full-process agency for Chinese overseas direct investment (ODI) filing; compliance review of cross-border capital flows; issuance of Chinese legal opinions; legal support for domestic financing
2.Guozun Aqaba Office: Due diligence on the target land parcel; application for investment permit from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority; drafting and negotiation of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA); Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) compliance review; land lease agreement negotiation
Case Highlights
1.Established a dedicated cross-border new energy investment team, completing cross-border verification of project information across land tenure, environmental impact, grid access and tax incentives within three months.
2.Identified an undisclosed land use right dispute over the originally targeted plot, promptly disclosed the risk to the client and supported negotiations with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority to reallocate the plot, averting a major investment loss.
3.Conducted five rounds of intensive negotiations with the National Electric Power Company of Jordan, finalising a 25-year favourable power purchase agreement.
4.Leveraged the Aqaba Special Economic Zone’s preferential policies – including a 5% corporate income tax rate and import duty exemptions – to design an optimised investment structure, delivering an estimated tax saving of approximately US$3 million.
Case Outcome On 15 April 2026, the project was granted its investment permit by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and the client completed the first-phase investment closing to high client satisfaction.
II. Immigration and Cross-Border Status Planning
Case 3: Full-Service Jordan Golden Visa Application for a Chinese Entrepreneur
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: January 2026 – April 2026
Client: Mr. Zhang, a Chinese national
Case Background The client intended to apply for the Jordanian Golden Visa – a five-year renewable residence permit – via real estate investment. Unfamiliar with the Jordanian property market and concerned about capital security and visa application risks, he retained Guozun for end-to-end agency services.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Preparation of proof of fund sources within China; compliance guidance for cross-border fund transfers; translation, notarisation and legalisation of Chinese documents; processing of no-criminal-record certificates
2.Guozun Amman Office: Screening and due diligence of premium residential properties in Amman; full-process agency for property transactions; preparation and submission of Golden Visa application materials; liaison with the Jordanian Ministry of Interior and Investment Commission
Case Highlights
1.Shortlisted a high-quality residential development in Amman’s 7th Circle district – an area with strong appreciation potential and full eligibility for Golden Visa applications.
2.Designed a secure phased fund escrow structure, ensuring purchase funds were held by a third-party custodian until title transfer was completed, effectively mitigating investment risk.
3.Assisted the client with all procedural steps including Jordanian bank account opening, property valuation and title registration.
4.Prepared detailed explanatory documentation in advance to address the Jordanian Ministry of Interior’s strict scrutiny of fund sources, avoiding requests for supplementary materials.
Case Outcome On 22 April 2026, the client was granted the Jordanian Golden Visa and simultaneously received the title deed for the purchased property, bringing the matter to a successful close.
Case 4: Batch Work Visa Application and Renewal for Employees of a Chinese Construction Enterprise in Jordan
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: February 2026 – May 2026
Client: Jordan Branch of a Chinese construction engineering Co., Ltd.
Case Background The client was delivering a large-scale infrastructure project in Jordan, requiring work visas and residence permits for 35 Chinese technical and managerial staff, plus renewal of expiring visas for 12 existing employees. Following Jordan’s 2025 Labour Law revision – which introduced major changes to foreign employee quotas and work visa eligibility – the client engaged Guozun for batch application services.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Collection and collation of employee documentation in China; notarisation and legalisation of no-criminal-record certificates; review of Chinese-language employment contracts; employee background checks
2.Guozun Amman Office: Work permit applications with the Jordanian Ministry of Labour; residence permit applications with the Ministry of Interior; visa renewal processing; liaison with Jordanian government authorities; pre-arrival guidance for employees
Case Highlights
1.Conducted in-depth analysis of Jordan’s 2025 revised Labour Law to accurately interpret foreign employee quota rules and work visa eligibility criteria.
2.Developed a phased batch application plan with unified document preparation and submission, significantly improving processing efficiency.
3.Resolved visa renewal obstacles for 3 employees arising from incomplete documentation and occupational category mismatches, eliminating the risk of illegal overstay.
4.Delivered foreign employment compliance training to the client and supported the establishment of a robust foreign employee management framework.
Case Outcome On 8 May 2026, work visas for all 35 new employees and visa renewals for all 12 existing staff were approved, ensuring uninterrupted project delivery.
III. Commercial Compliance and Regulatory Advisory
Case 5: Data Compliance System Establishment for a Chinese E-Commerce Technology Firm in Jordan
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: December 2025 – April 2026
Client: A leading Chinese e-commerce technology company
Case Background The client planned to launch a regional operations centre in Amman to serve consumers across the Middle East, requiring a data compliance system aligned with both China’s Data Security Law and Personal Information Protection Law, and Jordan’s Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 24 of 2023).
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Interpretation of Chinese data compliance requirements; design of cross-border data transfer mechanisms; alignment with the Chinese headquarters’ data governance framework; data security assessment
2.Guozun Amman Office: Compliance risk assessment under Jordan’s Personal Data Protection Law; privacy policy drafting; employee data compliance training; establishment of data breach incident response protocols; liaison with the Jordanian Data Protection Commission
Case Highlights
1.Completed a comprehensive compliance risk assessment within two months, identifying 17 high-risk and 32 medium-risk gaps.
2.Tailored the assessment to e-commerce industry characteristics, focusing on user personal information collection, payment data processing and cross-border data transmission to address sector-specific compliance challenges.
3.Designed a cross-border data transfer mechanism compliant with both Chinese and Jordanian data protection legislation, ensuring lawful cross-border flow of user data.
4.Established a data breach emergency response framework with detailed contingency plans and clear role delineation between the China and Jordan teams.
5.Delivered three data compliance training sessions for over 200 employees across both jurisdictions.
Case Outcome On 20 April 2026, the data compliance system was fully implemented and passed internal acceptance, laying a robust compliance foundation for the client’s Jordanian market entry.
Case 6: M&A Compliance Advisory for Acquisition of a Jordanian Pharmaceutical Enterprise
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: October 2025 – May 2026
Client: A Chinese pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Case Background The client sought to acquire a 60% equity stake in a local Jordanian pharmaceutical manufacturer to enter the Middle East and North Africa market. The transaction involved complex industry regulatory approvals and intellectual property issues, requiring specialist legal support to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risk.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Legal support for domestic M&A decision-making; compliance review of cross-border financing structures; Chinese anti-monopoly filing consultation; domestic financing legal support
2.Guozun Amman Office: Comprehensive due diligence on the target company; drafting and negotiation of the acquisition agreement; foreign investment approval application with the Jordanian Investment Commission; pharmaceutical production licence variation procedures; intellectual property due diligence
Case Highlights
1.Delivered full-scope due diligence over four months, covering corporate standing, equity structure, drug registration certificates, GMP certification, intellectual property, labour relations, taxation and environmental compliance.
2.Uncovered an undisclosed drug patent infringement lawsuit against the target, promptly advised the client and supported three rounds of price renegotiations with the seller, reducing the acquisition cost by approximately US$1.2 million.
3.Successfully secured foreign investment approval from the Jordanian Investment Commission and the pharmaceutical production licence variation from the Jordanian Food and Drug Administration.
4.Applied the China–Jordan Bilateral Tax Treaty to develop an optimised tax strategy, effectively reducing the transaction’s tax burden.
Case Outcome On 15 May 2026, the acquisition was formally completed, with the client successfully acquiring 60% equity of the target company.
IV. Cross-Border Family Affairs and Wealth Management
Case 7: Jordanian Real Estate Inheritance Legal Service for a Chinese National
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: December 2025 – March 2026
Client: Ms. Liu, a Chinese national
Case Background The client’s husband, who had long conducted business in Jordan and owned two local properties, passed away intestate. Jordan’s legal system integrates civil law and Islamic law, resulting in complex inheritance procedures. Unable to travel to Jordan personally, the client retained Guozun for dedicated inheritance legal services.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Collection, notarisation and legalisation of kinship certificates, death certificates and supporting documents within China; client identity verification; coordination of domestic inheritance matters
2.Guozun Amman Office: Application for inheritance right notarisation in Jordan; liaison with Jordanian notarial bodies and land registration authorities; property title transfer procedures; inheritance tax filing
Case Highlights
1.Accurately navigated differences between Chinese and Jordanian inheritance law – particularly statutory succession order and distribution ratios under Jordanian Islamic law – ensuring the inheritance notarisation complied with both jurisdictions.
2.Streamlined the cross-border document notarisation and legalisation process, resolving the practical barrier of the client’s inability to attend in person.
3.Engaged in extensive coordination with Jordanian notarial and land registry authorities to expedite inheritance proceedings.
4.Provided specialist tax planning advice on capital gains tax and other liabilities arising from Jordanian real estate inheritance, delivering tax savings of approximately 80,000 Jordanian dinars.
Case Outcome On 30 March 2026, the client received the formal inheritance notarial certificate and updated property title deeds, legally succeeding to her late husband’s two properties in Amman.
Case 8: Cross-Border Asset Allocation and Wealth Succession Planning between China and Jordan
(Jointly represented by Beijing Headquarters and Amman Office)
Case Period: August 2025 – April 2026
Client: A Chinese high-net-worth entrepreneur
Case Background The client held significant assets across both China and Jordan – including business equity, commercial real estate and bank deposits – with a total value exceeding RMB 200 million. He sought structured cross-border asset allocation and wealth succession planning to preserve and grow wealth, facilitate intergenerational transfer and mitigate cross-border tax exposure.
Division of Responsibilities
1.Guozun Beijing Headquarters: Domestic asset due diligence in China; establishment of Chinese family trusts; Chinese tax planning; family governance framework design
2.Guozun Amman Office: Jordanian asset due diligence; establishment of Jordanian family trusts; Jordanian tax planning; compliance review of cross-border asset transfers; liaison with Jordanian financial institutions
Case Highlights
1.Completed full asset due diligence across both jurisdictions within three months, establishing a clear picture of the client’s holdings and underlying risks.
2.Leveraged the China–Jordan Bilateral Tax Treaty to design a tailored tax optimisation strategy, materially reducing the tax burden on cross-border assets.
3.Supported the establishment of separate family trusts in China and Jordan to achieve asset isolation and structured intergenerational succession.
4.Developed a holistic wealth succession plan balancing family member interests with long-term business continuity.
5.Provided ongoing legal advisory support to ensure smooth implementation of the succession structure.
Case Outcome On 25 April 2026, the full wealth succession plan was implemented. The client’s cross-border assets are now legally protected and strategically allocated.
V. Conclusion
In the first half of 2026, Guozun Cathay Associates delivered strong performance across all practice areas through its “Beijing Headquarters + Jordan Local Office” joint case-handling model. The firm’s successful representation of high-impact cross-border matters has earned widespread client praise and industry recognition.
Going forward, Guozun Cathay Associates will continue to expand its global legal service network and strengthen the collaborative capabilities of its headquarters and overseas offices, delivering ever more premium, comprehensive and efficient legal services to Chinese enterprises going global and Chinese nationals navigating cross-border life.