BEIJING, March 24 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- In the face of global economic turmoil, international clients in China are increasingly using local law firms that offer the same services as international firms at one-third lower costs, said Edward E. Lehman, managing director of Beijing-headquartered Lehman, Lee & Xu, one of China's oldest and largest full-service firms.
"Our foreign lawyers earned their degrees and practiced in their home courts of law -- in jurisdictions including the U.S., Europe and Australia -- while our veteran Chinese attorneys actually helped develop legal practices as they evolved after China's opening up," Lehman said.
Founded in 1992, Lehman, Lee & Xu now operates in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia, and has associate offices in provinces across mainland China. It also has offices in Chicago and Mauritius.
In the face of ongoing economic turmoil, growing numbers of firms are dealing directly with Lehman, Lee & Xu's well-respected intellectual property practice rather than going through international firms with representative offices in China -- which often "out source" the work to local Chinese firms such as Lehman, Lee & Xu anyway.
"In these challenging times, companies look to cut costs, and this is a significant way to do that without sacrificing quality," Lehman said. "Even though times are tough, intellectual property remains crucial. We ensure that our clients' businesses are protected and that their IP portfolios are enforced and maintained."
Other practice areas that continue to grow through localization are corporate services and securities.
Lehman noted that there is still "a great deal of interest in China investment, but understanding the situation on the ground is crucial."
"With our long-time relationships and experience stretching back to the re-establishment of China's legal system as the country opened up, we help guide new ventures through the very different legal and regulatory environment," Lehman said, "and do so at a lower cost."
